| Michael & Marjorie Shakeshaft - On hearing the news, Chris Snuggs wrote: |
Shakey was one of WHS'S longest-serving and most devoted masters: devoted both to the school in general and to the boys in particular. To me he was the quintessential schoolmaster in the best sense. and one who formed a long-serving and like-minded group including Jimmy Hyde, Stretch Poole, Doc Thornbery, Sandy Hanson, Pop Corner, Peter Sadler, Dick Woollett, the four Headmasters and some others you will know well.
He was Housemaster of Berners when I arrived in September 1958. I was a good boy who never got into trouble (the truth is the truth - sorry!), so if Shakey had a harsh disciplinarian side I never saw it. I never actually remember him uttering an unkindly word or committing an unkindly deed - ever; either to me or anyone else. I think there must have been some slipperings, but certainly not brutal or undeserved if there were!
He was not - it seems to me - one of those high-profile stars of the show. He was rather more the Chief Engineer down in the hold than the dashing First Officer charming all the guests. And of course, he did not aspire to the latter role, but just got on with the job of being one of those old-fashioned schoolmasters like John Duttine as David Powlett-Jones in “To Serve Them All My Days”.
He was one of WHS’s longest-serving teachers, starting in 1955 and retiring in 1981 according to my records. He frequently gave up his holiday time to accompany boys on school trips, notably to France and in school ran the badminton activities for many years - always with humour and fairness.
I remember him one Sunday taking a small group of us to the Stour for a swim. It must have been in a minibus, though I don’t remember WHS having a minibus. Funnily enough, I don’t remember him having a car, unlike Leslie Johnson and his Rollses!
He ran his house quietly and efficiently, and always with fairness in my experience. There were some funny moments: the most memorable of which is described here.
I just remember Berners as a happy place when I was there, which of course was really important as it was the first experience of boarding school for most of us away from Mummy! There were a nice bunch of boys. Terry Ashcroft had a crystal radio we used to listen to Radio Luxembourg on (when you could pick it up!). The washrooms were across a small courtyard freezing in winter! But one or two steps and you were outside onto Orwell side and that truly sublime view of the River Orwell. What incredible memories.
Soon after we started in 1958 Marjorie Ager was appointed Housematron of Berners; even we first-formers soon worked out that they would be an item, and their long marriage was a wonderful thing. It was hardly a surprise when Marjorie passed away just two days after her beloved husband.
I had Stretch for French in 1B and 2B and was then moved up into the “A” stream in year three, which was when Shakey and Stretch swapped streams. That meant I never had Shakey as my French teacher and thus did not witness his probably apocryphal homework distributions with exercise books flying out of the window.
There was a wonderful birthday celebration held for Derek Thornbery on his 80th birthday. I am not sure whether the OBs held any kind of celebration for Michael, but he would have deserved it no less than the incredible Derek T.
I am sure many OBs were very saddened by the Shakeshafts’ passing, but immensely grateful for their long dedication to their school.
Rest in Peace, Michael and Marjorie. You were much loved.
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For Whom The Bell Tolls - John Donne No man is an island, "Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, |
He left a large selection of photos
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