Respected former teacher dies

David Sinfield... inspiring teacher

A POPULAR former teacher who taught at Blue Coat School for more than 20 years has died, aged 68.

David Sinfield, of Brookside Avenue, Grotton, died on Sunday. He taught maths to hundreds of students between 1970 and 1995.

Originally from the east end of London, David moved north after meeting his wife, Margaret, at teacher training college.

He taught at Clarksfield Secondary Modern School and Greenhill Grammar School before moving to Blue Coat, where he was also head of the house, Rowntree Wrigley.

As a teacher he was well loved and respected by colleagues and students and was seen as being firm, but fair, with a good sense of humour.

His classes consistently gained good results and he was also involved in a number of school shows.

His daughter, Suzanne Maisey (38), said: “Dad loved getting involved in school shows and his assemblies were always loud. He had the ability to get the children really involved so they raised the roof with their performances.

“At home, he was quieter, but you know that he would always be there to lend you lots of support if you ever needed it.”

David also leaves a son, Andrew, daughter-in-law Wendy, son-in-law Andy and two-year-old grand-daughter Holly Grace.

Suzanne said: “Dad took early retirement and loved spending time with his golden retriever dogs and travelling around the country with mum.

“He was overjoyed when I gave birth to Holly Grace, his first grandchild, and absolutely doted on her.”

The funeral will take place at St Anne’s Church, in Lydgate, at 11.30am on Tuesday and will be followed by committal at Oldham Crematorium at 1pm.

Flowers will be provided by close family and the family has requested that friends and well wishers who would like to make a donation should send a cheque to the PDSA or Golden Retriever Rescue.