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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’.
Ed was a charismatic Housemaster of School Field. Lunch with him was educational, entertaining and often humorous. He would encourage new members of staff and make them feel very welcome. He was much loved and will be missed. As Morrissey wrote .. ‘there is a light that will never go out’.. Prayers and thoughts with Lizzie and their family.
Accidenti Edward, cos’hai fatto? Sei ancora un ragazzino ai miei occhi, capelli rossicci, innamorato di David Bowie e ottimo tennista! Invece sono qui, la mattina di Natale, ad inviarti le mie condoglianze invece degli auguri!
Ho trascorso con te, mamma, papà e Clare alcune delle estati piu belle della mia vita all’Old Rectory, momenti che ancora adesso rimpiango e spesso vado a cercare nei ricordi.
Ti ho avuto accanto anche nel momento più buio della mia vita e tu sai a cosa mi riferisco!
Mi mancherai Edward, sarà triste sapere che anche se non ti vedevo da troppi anni, in Inghilterra avevo un amico, un amico che nascondeva nel cuore un angolo importante della mia vita. Addio Edward grazie di avermi accompagnato per un pezzo di strada, mi mancherai!
God bless you !
I’m sure your are with your friend Albert drinking a beer
Dr Beesley was a true inspiration for me. I was privileged enough to be there at the start of his SPS career adn to have him multiple times while I was at the school. He was a guide for me and someone to turn to for anything whether History or daily life related. His guidance during my university application and throughout my school life has massively impacted me and without him I wouldnt hold many of the values, aspirations and qualities that I value in myself today. All there really is to say about him is what a privilege it was to have known him and the world is a dimmer place without him. Thank you for everything sir I wouldn’t be where I am without you and I will miss you dearly.
Dr Beesley, aka Beeso, was a great teacher, but more fundamentally a great man. Within weeks of him taking over my History lessons in Sixth Form, my career plans changed and I switched to pursuing a History degree, inspired by his inquisitive, engaging approach. After school oxbridge sessions became a joy, rather than a chore, and whilst that particular effort failed, Ed’s unwavering support and motivation pushed me through. It helped that he was remarkably funny, self-effacing, and disdainful of authority – his commitment to breaking the school’s vaping policy surpassed that even of the most defiant 8th formers. I was truly saddened by the news, but I hope that the love, inspiration and joy he brought others sustains those who loved him.