Obituary: Robin Cox

December 2018

The Association learned of the death of former member Robin Cox.

Robin served as headteacher in 3 very different Service schools and subsequently as AEO in Germany and SAEO in Cyprus.  Robin joined SCEA in 1974 as headteacher of Tengah School in Singapore. Tengah, largely an RAF community school with 6 staff, served 120 pupils. It was reputed that Robin’s office displayed a shelf of jars containing pickled snakes caught on school premises; always a talking point for vis-iting parents. Speech in the school was often disturbed by the sound of aircraft taking off and landing and the children and staff got used to pausing ‘till they could be heard. Life in Singapore encompassed Chinese, Indian and Malay cultures and quartering was provided; colonial and spacious.

When the British withdrew from Singapore at Christmas 1975 Robin closed the school and moved to Hong Kong as head of Stanley Fort School. Overlooking the South China Seas, it was a breath-taking setting. The pupils here were mainly drawn from the 2nd Battalion Royal Grenadier Guards. Robin's three years tenure saw several changeovers, including the Green Jackets who were there when he left. During Robin’s time as head, Princess Alexandra arrived to make a regimental visit (at the same time as HMI arrived to inspect the school). Union Jacks were waved as the pupils lined her route, but she didn't stop. However, as the school buses drove down the narrow, steep road at home time, two of them neatly sandwiched the royal car - much to the delight of the children but not the disgruntled Colonel!

Christmas 1978 saw Robin and his family packing to relocate to Germany. After nearly five years in the heat of the Far East, it was a shock to arrive back into a German winter. Robin's third headship was at Hemer Primary School near Soest with 450 pupils, mostly 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. The school, previously home to a Canadian High School, included a Special Unit for eight special needs pupils. As usual in a SCEA School Robin’s time as head saw pupils and staff turn over several times.

It was here that Robin was introduced to Oswin Hall (Inspector Adviser) who was immediately impressed by the quality of Robin’s leadership and who persuaded Robin to apply for a vacancy in the Advisory Service. Following his successful appointment to what was then the Northern Region, he and Oswin worked well together and created many programmes for In-service training in both Regions (N and S). Here too Robin found time to author several primary handwriting handbooks in con-junction with Charles C Cripps. Robin subsequently went on to serve successfully as AEO in Minden and Gütersloh and as SAEO in Cyprus. Those who worked and socialised with Robin (and wife Jane who predeceased him) remember them always for their lasting friendship and quality time together.