Tom McErlean was the first head teacher at the Goring Street school, known originally as St Mary's RC High School when it opened its doors in 1956.

Mr McErlean, of Lundy Close, Littlehampton, stayed at the school, which had two more name changes before it became Chatsmore High, until his retirement in 1982 – and, according to his daughters, Ann Horne and Gillian Argent, he loved his time there.

Loved school

They agreed: "We moved down from London so he could help open the school.

"It wasn't ready when we first arrived and he had to organise things from out of an education authority office.

"He loved it at the school.

"If a department was short of a teacher, whether it was in French, music or anything, he would stand in.

"After he retired, he would often see former pupils and he would always remember them.

"He liked to see them doing well. He knew the names of all the students at school."

History

Mr McErlean was born in Grimsby in 1917.

He started teaching in London in 1938, but in 1939 he was called up and became an officer in the Supplementary Reserve in the Lancashire Fusiliers.

In 1940, during a 10-day leave, he went home to London and married Mary.

The couple were married for 68 years and Mrs McErlean, 89, taught needlework at the Goring school.

He travelled all over the world and was eventually promoted to captain.

Teaching career

After the war, in 1953, he became the youngest head teacher in the country, leading St Stephen's RC secondary school in Kent.

He moved to Worthing three years later.

In 1990, Mr McErlean was presented with a Papal medal for services to education.

He loved music and languages.

He and his wife bred Beddington Terriers, showing them at Crufts.

Family and funeral

Mr McErlean also leaves a son, Mark, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Ann and Gillian, who both became teachers, said: "He was a very calm man and had a dry sense of humour.

"He was supportive and he will be sadly missed."

Mr McErlean died on Friday, September 26, and his funeral service will be at 11am on Tuesday, October 7, at St Catherine's Church in Beach Road, Littlehampton.

Tributes

Are you one of Mr McErlean's former pupils?

Leave your tributes to him by commenting below or by email to kirsty.hanlon@jpress.co.uk

...

Theresa Bevans (nee Smith) said: "I am a former pupil of Chatsmore Catholic High School (when it was called Blessed Robert Southwell).

"Mr. McErlean was my head teacher and I have very good and fond memories. He was very good in assuring my mother that it would be quite safe for me to attend my first school dance.

"He then called me to his office and told me what he had told my mother and asked me not to let him down! He was lovely and I often saw him after I was married and had children of my own.

"He was always interested in his pupils and former pupils."

-------------------------------------
Click here for more people in the news.

Click here to go back to Worthing news.

Click here to return to Littlehampton news.

Click here to go back to Shoreham news.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: letters@worthingherald.co.uk