Colin Silk
1910 - 2003
Former school teacher who enjoyed every aspect of life
From the Sussex Express, May 30th 2003
ORMER Lewes County Grammar School for Boys teacher Colin Silk
died on Wednesday last week, aged 92. The eldest of seven children,
he went to Monmouth School where
he excelled academically and athletically. From there he won a
scholarahip to Jesus College, Oxford, to read English Literature.
With the enthusiasm of the true scholar he decided to follow a
career in teaching, first at Cranbrook School and then from 1939
to 1975 at the Lewes County Grammar School for Boys (later Priory
School). There he taught English and rugby football with equal
skill and passion, ending his career as head of the English
Department. He ran the under-15 county rugby team for many
years.
Colin's love of Shakespeare was legendary and it was
communicated to all those exposed to his enthusiasm, whether at
school or at The Lewes Little Theatre, where he memorably
directed Macbeth, King Lear, Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure,
The Tempest, Othello and The Winter's Tale. He was actively
involved in the Theatre Club almost since its inception. At`one
stage he was chairman of the committee and enjoyed every aspect
of the club from actimg to polishing the foyer floor and making
the coffee.
He was a familiarly eccentric figure cycling around Lewes with
his army rucksack on his back, often causing alarm with his
erratic swerves due to his eagerness to salute some friend
passing by. He loved to be outdoors. Walking on the Downs, in the
Lake District or in the Alps, usually with members of the family,
remained an intense pleasure until the last few years of his
life.
His family were his joy. In his beloved wife Beryl he found
the ideal foil and all his children grew to share his
enthusiasms. Both daughters, Judith and Amanda, followed him into
the teaching profession and his son Nick became a GP. Colin was
also lucky to be able to spend so much time with his 11 devoted
grandchildren and to begin to get to know some of his eight
great-grandchildren.
A Service to Celebrate the Life of
Colin Edward Baily Silk
1910 - 2003
