Edwyn (Teddy) J. Boase

Old Cambrian Society

Edwyn (Teddy) J. Boase - 1961

Photogallery Edwyn (Teddy) J. Boase, MA(Oxon) BA(Leeds) - 1961

Staff member at the Prince of Wales School 1941-2 and 1947-62

Edwyn (Teddy) J. Boase - 1961

On 19th August 2007, webmaster received an e-mail Corinna Steer (née Boase):
"Sometime ago I promised you a photograph of my Father (Teddy Boase). I have finally had a decent one re-done and it looks quite good. This was actually taken at the Duke of York School during a cricket match between the two schools in 1961. He was so proud of his MCC tie."

The 1962 Impala magazine contains a very moving and personal tribute to this great teacher, given by Bill Liversidge, and reproduced below:

E. J. Boase
Prince of Wales School 1941-42; 1947-62
In January the School was stunned when it heard the news of the sudden death of Teddy Boase, who died in a hospital in Genoa, while on his way home with his family to Jersey for home leave. Teddy's memory will remain ever green whilst we recall his ready smile, his penetrating wit, his easy wearing of a culture deep and broad; he was ever the same - approachable, helpful, courteous, chucklingly aware of the human comedy. To Anita, Corinna and Lynette we extend our deepest sympathy in their irreparable loss.

A memorial Service to the honour of his memory was held "in the School Chapel on February 1st: the moving Address given by W. J. H. Liversidge, Esq., is reproduced here:

We have come here this afternoon, before God, to remember a friend and to thank God for many years of devoted work by an outstanding schoolmaster.

To many people in East Africa, the Prince of Wales School is an accepted institution. It is built on a commanding site, It has fine buildings and from it, each year; young men go forth to play their part in the life of this colony and of the world at large. The success of the school is rightly judged by the actions and lives of those young Men. But, when an Old Cambrian does well in the world, how much credit is given to those, who, like Teddy Boase, over the years, have helped to build the traditions and set the standards which we try to maintain In this place?

Teddy worked in this school for longer than anybody else at present on the staff. He came out to Kenya in 1941 when the school had been evacuated to Naivasha, moved later to the Nairobi Primary School and finally returned here in 1947. For over twenty years therefore he worked for the boys of Kenya and he did that work superlatively well.

As a teacher he had the invaluable gift of being able to inspire the majority of his pupils with an interest in Latin which was not inherent in them. His periods were never dull and if, at times, the less exciting ones were relieved by other matters - history, comment on current topics, art, or even a dissertation on the laws or technique of cricket - that was only part of the real and more general education with which he tempered the astringencies of a School or Higher School Certificate syllabus. His methods were justified by success.

Teddy was a humanist of the type which the Oxford 'Greats' School produces so admirably. He read widely and with a catholicity which few here could match. Above all he displayed the wisdom of the true scholar who realises how limited is the value of knowledge which is not leavened by critical ability and sound judgment.

Teddy carried his learning with a humility which was often deceptive, but his friendly and wise advice was always at the disposal of those who asked for it. He was a humble man, not in the sense that he underrated his powers, but in the sense that he did not overrate their importance. With this he combined a splendid sense of humour which he preferred to direct at his own foibles rather than at the faults of other people.

Perhaps, to many here today he was best known as a sports- man. Cricket was his great' love and he was a more than useful member of any side for which he played, but there were no games in which he was not interested. He was responsible for the School XI for many years and, in addition, he could be found umpiring hockey, judging athletics and taking a player's interest in tennis or golf. But in any school activity, indeed, he would always give his willing help when and where it was needed.

I was privileged to be his friend for sixteen years and I shall always be thankful that I was granted that friendship, for Teddy had much to teach his colleagues as well. I have never met anybody who extracted so much happiness from life - in his work, his leisure and, above all, in his family life. He 'communicated that happiness to others when they were in his company.

In a petition by one of her seamen to Queen Elizabeth the First there occur these words -- "The wings of man's life are plumed with the feathers of death." We cannot tell when those wings will cease to carry us on our journey through this world and, for Teddy, one would have expected and hoped for many more years of service of the type he gave to Kenya for so long. But it was not to be, and the news of his death has come to this school and to his many friends as a staggering blow.

While we mourn his loss, let us thank God for the life which he devoted so cheerfully to his fellow-men and for the example which Is the memorial he has left us.

W. J. H. L.