Top education chief dies at 76
Peter Cates, who was Shropshire's chief education officer from 1987 to 1994, has died at the age of 76.
Mr Cates, from Shrewsbury, was at the heart of the county education scene for many years and also played a major role in sports development.
He was already well known in Shropshire education circles when he stepped up from his previous role as assistant county education officer in charge of secondary education to succeed Mr John Boyers in the top post.
He was also education officer for the Premier League, and was a key figure in arrangements behind the establishment of an FA soccer school of excellence at Lilleshall which aimed to nurture England's footballing stars of the future.
In 2013 he received the Shropshire Schools & Colleges FA life member service award marking 25 years of service.
Born in Devon, Mr Cates started his teaching career in Kent, later took a degree in law then returned to teaching before moving into administration in Kent.
He moved to Shropshire in 1969, took charge of primary education in 1974 and switched to secondary in 1982 under Mr Boyers and deputy chief, Mr Ian Dobson.
In Kent he was a member of Margate lifeboat crew and had a keen interest in sailing.
During his period as president of the SSCFA he was responsible for introducing the President’s Plate competitions in the late 1980s.
During the early 1980s, together with then England manager Bobby Robson and FA director of coaching Charles Hughes, the first FA national school for schoolboys was established at Lilleshall National Sports Centre.
The nation’s most talented young footballers mixed training at Lilleshall to hone their skills with full time education at Shifnal’s Idsall School.
During the 1990s Mr Cates remained a key player in the transition from the FA national school to youth academies and centres of excellence at Premier and Football League clubs.
One of the most controversial issues during his period as assistant county education officer for secondary education came when, in the mid-1980s, a report recommended closing eight secondary schools across Shropshire.
It sparked a virtual uprising in rural parts and some of the biggest protests in years.
With Lakelands at Ellesmere being on the hit-list, he told how he was stalked by Ellesmere mums who plotted to kidnap him and hold him to ransom.
“I think they bottled out,” he said. “They thought the prospect of having me under their control was not one they really fancied.”
At his request there will be a small private family funeral.
