Tributes to teacher who inspired generations of Telford pupils

Edward Phelps had a 30-year career in schools across Telford & Wrekin.

Originally from Birmingham, he tried an apprenticeship with Rover and then a career in car sales, but decided it wasn't for him as, in the words of his daughter Caroline Evason, "he was too nice to people".

'Eddie' married Carole in 1966 and, seeking a fresh start, the two moved to Telford in the 1970s and he began studying teaching and biology.

His first primary school teaching role was at the Hadley Junior School, where he stayed from 1978 to 1987.

From there he moved to St Peter's Wrockwardine school in Wrockwardine, and worked there until the school closed in 1992 when he moved to the new St Peter's in Bratton.

Catherine Cooper worked closely with Eddie in the Wrockwardine years, and she remembered him fondly, saying: "Edward deserves every tribute for the years he gave to teaching.

"He was loved by everyone and I doubt that anyone he taught would ever forget him.

"He was always a whizz with the technical side of things, especially when computers were new to schools. In those days, it took about 20 minutes to load the one programme.

"He was always in charge of the lighting for our school plays, which were performed in the village hall, and whenever he could, he'd get involved with the singing.

"One of our harvest specials was the performing of 'Paintbox', known by all as 'Cauliflower's Fluffy'.

"I think that was his favourite song, we certainly taught it to a great many children.

"I found out that he didn't like hens - well, at least not in the classroom.

Show and tell

"One of his class brought her 'pet' in to show and tell, it had been in a cardboard box for about an hour so it's understandable that when the box was opened, it made its escape.

"It was quite an experience seeing a hen flying around his room from the window of my room.

"The child and I got it back into the box and her mum came to collect it. That was the last time he ever had 'show and tell'."

Catherine said that Edward would get the best out of the school's sports teams, who would "play their hearts out for him".

She said: "He had a love of playing music very loudly in his room at the end of the day and singing along, anything from Beethoven to Blue Suede Shoes.

"We had very few children at Wrockwardine to make up sports teams but we did have some great cricketers.

"We managed to get one team to the final at Shifnal one year, something that had never happened before at the school, it was his coaching that made it possible."

He loved performing in school plays as well, with his roles ranging from Goliath and Elvis to Mrs Mop.

Retired

Catherine continued: "It became a tradition that he and I would always serve the staff their Christmas lunch.

"He always had a smile for everyone and could make us all laugh.

"It was the end of an era when we had to move down to Bratton. Wrockwardine was a very special place to teach."

Eddie retired from the Admaston school in 2007, but he couldn't stay away and pitched in as a supply teacher for another 10 years.

He touched the lives of hundreds of people during his teaching career, colleagues and pupils alike.

Amanda Neal, who once worked with him, said: "Eddie was such a good man, kind, caring, funny and naughty.

"He had the biggest heart and made everyone feel special. He is missed already.

"We are so very lucky that no-one can steal away the precious memories we have of Eddie."

Family friend Janet Sutch said: "I will remember Eddie for the lovely man he was and he is in my thoughts."

Former colleague Ruth Boughey said: "'We were all saddened to hear about Eddie.

"All three of our children have very fond memories - as do we - of him at St Peters.

"He was most definitely one of the kindest, thoughtful and genuine people we have ever met."

His daughter Caroline reflected on her dad with pride: "He contributed so much to the teaching community, it wasn’t just a job - it was his passion.

"Nothing was ever too much trouble, he dedicated himself to the schools and the children.

"You can’t go anywhere without people knowing who he is, he taught parents and has also taught their children.

"Even the registrar on registering his death has children who had a connection and been taught by 'Mr Phelps'."

Eddie was diagnosed with bladder cancer in November of 2017, and he died on January 6.

His funeral will be held at the Telford Crematorium at 10.30am this Saturday, January 26.

He is survived by Sarah, Caroline and Matthew as well as four grand-children and two great-grand-children.