RGS High Wycombe Masters Pages

Sam Morgan (1906 - 1991)

Ron Wynand sent in this obituary:-

Sam Morgan, the former deputy headmaster at the Royal Grammar School, died on May 9 1991, suddenly but peacefully at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
Mr Morgan, 84, of Main Road, Lacey Green, was appointed deputy head at the Wycombe boy’s school in 1946 and retired in July 1973.
Old boys will remember his strength of character, caustic wit, loyalty and support. When Mr Morgan arrived at the RGS in 1930, there were only16 teaching staff in the school of 318 students.
He left Leeds University with a degree in Geography. He played centre-forward for the university soccer team and he represented the Universities Athletic Union at this sport. Mr Morgan also played cricket and hockey for High Wycombe and Buckinghamshire. He was a keen golfer and long-time member of Flackwell Heath Golf Club where he was planning to play on the day he died.
Mr Morgan, who was born in Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland, leaves a widow Maude Louise. A Memorial service at St Michael and All Angels Church, Hughenden, will take place, followed by a service at Chilterns Crematorium, Amersham.
(Bucks Free Press)

Ron Wynands (1944-50) writing in 1991 added:-

The late Rev John Skipp had said affectionately at an earlier time, "As Sam's voice grew louder, the tongue sharper and the face more purple, the boy would hardly know what to fear more, the stroke that Sam was about to have, or the stroke he was about to administer."

It had been my good fortune to see Sam in Princes Risborough High Street two days before he died, and to have enough presence of mind to stop him, and introduce myself. We had a lively chat about former times in the Geography Wing, including the explosive 'Flying Wheelband Pencil Case out of the Window' episode. On learning of his death some weeks later I wrote a line of condolence to Mrs S Morgan, who lived nearby in Lacey Green. She kindly replied, and said that Sam had come home on the Tuesday to say he had just been speaking with a former pupil.

It is a very pleasant thought that Sam, almost at the end, was taken down memory lane of the 1940s we had all experienced together.

John Saunders writes:- "I can add one small detail to it, having looked Sam up on Ancestry.com. Sam's date of birth was 25 September 1906.
His name was simply Samuel Morgan - no middle name."

Robin Thirlway adds:- Sam Morgan - In the course of one lesson he became en couleur and left the room slamming the door at which point a window pane fell from the door to the floor. The door opened and Sam said “Tell the Bursar I did it.” and slammed the door again, whereupon another pane fell out.  

And Brian Ransley writes:- As for Sam Morgan, of whom I considered myself privileged to be taught Geography for 6 years: My most vivid memories were of him scaring the timid out of their wits, regularly tearing his gown as the closing door beat his flowing robe on entry, and the time a golf ball hit by him, smashed the window above me as I was about to enter the Geography Block. Well, it missed you - didn’t it?!