Heartfelt tributes have been paid to the much-loved former Bursar of King Edward and Queen Mary School, who has died aged 78, following 18 months of declining mobility.
Bert Bracegirdle of New Longton, Preston, was appointed as Bursar and Clerk to the Governors of King Edward VII and Queen Mary Schools in 1980 and served under three Chairs of Governors, Bill Salthouse, Tony Nickson and John Bennett over a period of almost 30 years.
His qualities of exemplary efficiency, fairness and friendliness were appreciated by every member of the teaching and support staff, according Julian Wilde, the first Principal of the amalgamated King Edward and Queen Mary School, who worked closely with Bert Bracegirdle from 1993 to 2003.
“Bert Bracegirdle had a huge range of responsibilities. As Bursar, he dealt with every aspect of the finances in a budget of £20 million, as well as having responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the buildings.
In addition, in his role as Clerk to the Governors, he attended countless planning meetings as the progress and future direction of the two separate single-sex schools were monitored, debated and planned.” he said.
“I admired his consistency and even-handedness, and I know how much staff appreciated his personal attention and careful explanation of their pension rights at the time of their retirement. Governors and parents too, always held him in the highest regard.”
Since his retirement in 2008, Mr Bracegirdle and his wife, Bronwen, a popular and respected music teacher in the Preston area, have been regular and enthusiastic supporters of social events for former staff. The couple have two sons, Stephen, an engineer and project manager who lives in Longton and Michael, an opera singer, who lives in Denmark.
The School flag will fly at half-mast in honour of Mr Bracegirdle on the day of his funeral.
This will be at All Saints Church on Station Road, New Longton near Preston on Tuesday 17th February at 11am. The funeral director is Neal Buckley of Longton, Hutton and Penwortham Funeral Service.
The service will be followed by a cremation at Charnock Richard and a wake at Charnock Farm, Buckshaw Village. All are most welcome to attend