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Members of the St Paul’s Community are invited to share their messages of condolence, following the sad loss of Dr Ed Beesley, Head of History at St Paul’s.
Ed’s wife is extremely grateful for the kind words she has received so far and wanted the school to share this message with the Pauline community:
Normally, I am extremely assiduous in writing thank-you cards for the gifts I receive but, after today, this would be an Herculean task so please excuse the impersonal nature of this message.
Ed was loved and respected wherever he worked and it is an enormous help to Augusta, Theo and me to see this marked so palpably by the hundreds of cards and messages we have already received. We have long since run out of vases for beautiful flowers and the massive box which just arrived with so many envelopes, gifts and expressions of love from SPGS and SPS is quite overwhelming. The Rugby community also holds Ed deep in their hearts and so we are drawing on our collective good memories to keep us strong. Ed will live with us forever, of course, but you have all already played a huge part in supporting us and I know he would love you all the more for it.
With our best wishes, Lizzie, Augusta and Theo.
If you would like to share your message on this page, please add your comment in the below box.
If you wish to include your name with your message, please add it to the message box as well as the field marked ‘name’.
Dr Beesley was the kind of teacher that could have had boys standing on chairs saying ‘O Captain! My Captain!’ I was truly inspired, nurtured and supported throughout my time in Ed’s class. Many classrooms are all too transient and fade in memory years later. Yet, to this day, I can remember every boy in my A-Level History group and almost every lesson. One of my proudest moments at school was when I walked into a class and Ed asked me what I thought of an essay I had handed in. I responded nervously, “I’m not sure my argument was very good.” Ed told me that it was excellent and that I should have more confidence in myself. I return to this memory frequently now whenever I doubt myself and need to boost my self-confidence – Ed believed in me and therefore so should I. Ed certainly has left an enduring legacy with me, as I know he did with many others. As a class, we were more than a just a group that saw each other for two hours a week, we were a family that shared a love of History. I very much hope we come together in the coming weeks to share memories and gratitude for ‘Our Captain’.
– Eddy Jones
Dr Beesley cared deeply about his students. After one A-level teacher left SPS with minimal notice, it was Dr Beesley who stepped up to cover and cram everything we had missed from the syllabus. He ensured that our education would not be compromised and despite the time pressure he continued to enrich our knowledge above and beyond the standard curriculum. Dr Beesley’s emphasis on self-motivated and curiosity-driven research significantly affected my outlook and was invaluable in preparing me for University. I, like many others, will remain ever-grateful to this funny and caring man.
Dr Beesley was one of the greatest men I have ever met and his loss is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with his family at what must be an incredibly tough time. An inspirational teacher who I’m sure has influenced many just as myself. A truly lovely, kind man who will sorely be missed.
Dr Beesley is that special teacher everyone dreams of and some are lucky enough to have.
From the first essay he ever marked of mine, which he concluded to be (I quote) ‘fairly shoddy’, to my most recent chat with him about by undergraduate dissertation on magic, Dr Beesley ended up playing a far larger role in my life than I could have imagined. Despite being a huge mind, Dr Beesley was always humorous and humble, as well as flexible and open to persuasion: a combination of attributes which I have valued ever since. Learn for pleasure, carry your qualities lightly, and never take yourself too seriously; all the while being the most engaging person I know. I will continue to live up to those ideals.
It has been a true honour knowing such a man.
Ed was my son’s tutor during the Covid time and made a big positive difference to my son’s development. Ed was always there for him and really seemed to take pleasure in seeing my son gain confidence in his academic ability and improve his grades. He was a warm presence in my son’s life and will be sorely missed. Emerick decided to study history and ancient history at A level despite not studying history at GCSE level and I am sure that he made that choice partly out of a wish to stay within Ed’s circle.