Transcript

of

Edward John Willcocks [Obituary]

Maxwell Adams (Ed.).

Trans. Devon. Assoc., vol.  XL, (1908), pp. 44-45.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1908 Newton Abbot meeting. Edward John Willcox, M.A. (Saint Catharine's College, Cambridge) was second master at the Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School in 1879. He had previously taught at a private school in Cheam, Surrey. A complete history of the Warrington school, mentioning his service there, is available in Wikipedia. The obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Edward John Willcocks was the eldest son of the late Mr. Roger Willcocks, of Teignmouth - a former member of the Association, who died in 1876 - and was born in 1847. Educated privately at first, at the age of sixteen he entered Trinity College, Dublin, where he quickly gave evidence of mathematical ability by gaining distinction in the terminal examinations. Leaving Trinity College in 1865 he proceeded to Cambridge, where he won a Senior Mathematical Scholarship at St. Catharine's College, and (reading with the late Mr. W. Besant as his private tutor) graduated in 1869 as a Wrangler. 

After holding a mastership at Mr. Tabor's school at Cheam, Surrey, for a few terms, he was elected in June, 1870, second master of the Warrington Grammar School, Lancashire, and ordained deacon shortly afterwards by the Bishop of Chester. In 1881, when the headmastership of the same school fell vacant, Mr. Willcocks was appointed to the post, and held it down to his  death, in August, 1907. During his headmastership the school was raised to a high state of efficiency.

In addition to his scholastic work, Mr. Willcocks filled the perpetual curacy of Orford, near Warrington, from 1870 to 1878, and afterwards was actively engaged in the Bank Quay Mission in Warrington. When he became headmaster he attached himself to the old parish church, and rendered occasional help there.

Outside the Grammar School his educational work in his younger days was (to quote the Warrington Guardian) "largely concerned in the old Science and Art Classes, in which he took an active interest. When the Warrington Education Committee was was formed he became one of the co-opted members, and brought to that body the formed he became one of the co-opted members, and brought to that body the calm counsels and ripe judgment that were the necessary fruits of almost forty years' work as a practical and successful educationist. It was a loss to the Committee, and a matter for real regret, that his failing health made it necessary for him to give up this work." 

To an unbounded energy and zeal for his work Mr. Willcocks added broad sympathies and attractive personal qualities, which won for him a wide circle of friends. His health first began to fail towards the end of 1906, but in spite of diminishing strength he manfully stuck to his work up to almost the very last, and passed away at his residence, "Heathfield," Latchford, Warrington, on 15 August, 1907. 

Mr. Willcocks was married in 1874 to Miss Edith Annie Taylor, the only daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Taylor, of Kersal Bank, Manchester, and left her and three children - two sons and a daughter - surviving him. He became a life member of the Association in 1877, and always took much interest in the yearly volumes of its Transactions, but unfortunately never had an opportunity of attending its meetings.