
Alan Kelk has died. He taught at my school for thirty-seven years, although I knew him for only four of them.
He taught me two things. The first was to love and respect the English language, a most valuable possession which I have cherished ever since.
The second was a piece of advice: “If thou canst fight, wear a big ‘at.” Although I never quite grasped the full extent of this, I have found it invariably useful in difficult times.
RIP Alan!