Alan Clague, a devoted classics teacher, passed away at the age of 81, leaving behind a legacy of making the subject more accessible to all. His impact was most profound during his leadership as head of classics at St John’s comprehensive school in Marlborough, Wiltshire, where he successfully encouraged over 60 students to study classics at the sixth form level – a rare achievement outside of private schools.
Born in Liverpool to Thomas, a painter, and Elizabeth, a housewife, Alan attended Liverpool Collegiate boys’ grammar school before pursuing classics at Exeter University. Despite his initial penchant for football and cider, Alan graduated in 1964 and embarked on his career as a classics teacher at Altrincham grammar school in Cheshire, later transitioning to St John’s in 1975.
In 1997, Alan took on a new role as a classics subject officer for the Oxford and Cambridge Examination Board, followed by the Eduqas board. Even after retiring from Eduqas in 2019, he continued to contribute as a part-time examinations reviser until his passing. Alan’s dedication to the subject did not go unnoticed, as highlighted in a 2008 interview on BBC Radio 4’s Top of the Class program, where he was praised by children’s author Lauren Child, a former student of his at St John’s.
Despite not initially recalling Lauren, Alan’s impact on her love for Latin and writing was undeniable, as she credited his inspirational lessons for shaping her career. In his leisure time, Alan enjoyed solving cryptic crosswords in The Guardian and The Observer, often winning prizes for his adeptness at completing them. Survived by his wife and son, Tim, from his previous marriage, Alan’s passion for classics and dedication to education will be remembered fondly by those whose lives he touched
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