I was very sorry to hear news of the death of Mike Terry, best known to many of us as the Head of Science at Alexandra Park School. He died last week when he was training for a charity run. Nigel Scott, one of our councillors for Alexandra Ward, who is also a governor at the school told me more about him:

Although he was not the head of the school, in many ways, Mike was its heart. He was a pillar of strength to the founding head, Roz Hudson and to her successor, Michael McKenzie. He always had time for everyone, with a kind word and sound advice. It was Mike Terry’s drive, determination and enthusiasm that secured Science Status for the school and he was instrumental in setting up the school’s links with Ephes Mamkeli School in South Africa.

While most people in the school community knew that Mike had been involved in the Anti-Apartheid Movement, few appreciated the depth of his commitment. He was its Executive Secretary for twenty years and oversaw its emergence from being a small campaign group to becoming a key player in changing world opinion and reforming South Africa. When reform came to South Africa and the Anti-Apartheid Movement was wound up, Mike’s enthusiasm was diverted into a new career as a teacher and Alexandra Park School was the main beneficiary.

He was loved and will be missed not just in the school community, but by his many friends in South Africa and elsewhere. We need more like him.