LEIGHTON, Ken (Class of 1953)

LEIGHTON, Ken (Class of 1953)

This obituary was provided by Ken's son.

Mr W K Leighton (Ken).  

Born in Manchester in 1935, and educated at Cheadle Hulme School and subsequently Edinburgh University where he gained a degree in Biology, Ken went on to teach biology at Loddon School in Norfolk.  After a few years as a housemaster at Brighton College, where he also taught biology and geography, Ken then gained a Deputy Headship at a British Forces Education Service Boys School in Hamm, in the then West Germany.  It was during this time that Ken lost his first wife Margery to a tragic rockfall accident whilst walking in the Swiss Alps.

As the British Forces education footprint in Germany reduced and schools amalgamated Ken became Headteacher of a combined school, where he also met his 2nd wife Vicky, before spending further time at Prince Rupert School again in Germany in a small town called Rinteln.  After over 11 years in Germany Ken returned to the UK to take up a Headship at Elmbridge School in Essex, before retiring in 1994 with Vicky to North Thoresby, in Lincolnshire. 

Having had a rich and fulfilled retirement, Ken never truly recovered from the loss of Vicky on 1 July 2020, and on 2 August 2021 Ken tragically, but peacefully, passed away.  He is survived by his children, Mr Mark Leighton, Mrs Penny Christou and Lieutenant Colonel Paul Leighton MBE.