OLD AZURIANS
ASSOCIATION
A H WURR (1944-1974)
Subject: History
Alexander Henry Wurr (‘Alec’) was born in North London on 28 December 1912. His family subsequently moved to rural Hertfordshire, where he attended Hertford Grammar School before studying at Selwyn College, Cambridge, from 1931-33, graduating in English and History. At Cambridge he was a keen rower, representing his college. He then spent a year at King’s College, London, followed by teacher training experience in London schools.
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In 1937 he joined the staff of Guisborough Grammar School, in the North Riding of Yorkshire (now Cleveland), where he lived in local lodgings until his marriage to Kathleen Steel in 1939, after which he set up family home in the town. At the outbreak of war he volunteered for service as an Air Raid Warden, a busy activity due to Guisborough’s proximity to the much-bombed Middlesborough. As a member of the school staff he became heavily involved in their music and drama activities, Gilbert and Sullivan performances being among the favourites.
In September 1944 he joined the staff of WHSB as a member of the History department, and the family moved to the house in Chesswood Road where Alec would remain until after his retirement. He soon became a Form Master and Room 13 became his ‘second home’ until the school eventually relocated to Durrington. Later he took on Careers Advice duties and there must surely be many who were subsequently grateful for his guidance. He was also one of the staff responsible for school rugby, managing and refereeing the Under-14 team for many years. In addition, he was a staff representative on the committee of the AMA (later IAAM), as the grammar schools teachers’ union was then called.
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Alec and Kathleen had two sons – John (born 1940) and David (1942), both of whom attended WHSB in the 1950s. Kathleen was herself a teacher who was for many years on the staff of Sompting Abbots preparatory school. She was an active supporter of the WHSB Parent-Teachers’ Association, helping to organise the annual school bazaar, and along with Alec, a keen participant in the staff badminton and tennis clubs.
After Alec’s retirement he and Kathleen moved to a sea-view flat in New Parade. Alec died peacefully, at home, in October 1991, aged 78. Many former colleagues and pupils attended his funeral at Worthing Crematorium. Kathleen survived him by eleven years and died, aged 88, in Southlands Hospital after a short illness.
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Ed: I am grateful to John Wurr who has provided the material upon which this piece is based, and pleased that such a popular master can be properly represented in the staff section.