A dedicated headteacher whose musicals were legendary in west Suffolk has died, aged 97.
If you went to school in Westley, Bury St Edmunds or Great Cornard during the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the chances are you may have been taught by John Colleer.
A talented musician and a captivating storyteller, teaching was everything to John, his family said, for he fought to provide every child with the opportunities they deserved.
John and his identical twin brother, Michael, were born in Colchester on December 6, 1926. Their parents, Elsie and James, did not realise that they were expecting twins. Family lore has it that as Elsie lay cradling newborn baby Michael, the midwife suddenly exclaimed: “Hang on – I think there’s another one!”
John and Michael joined their elder brother Peter, competing the family of five. The boys grew up in Lexden.
As a twin, both boys had an automatic playmate and soulmate, explained John’s youngest daughter, Naomi Snowdon. They were also extremely competitive, being both academic and keen musicians, both playing the organ at various local churches.
After school, John and Michael both trained as teachers. John’s first post was at Tollgate Primary School in Bury St Edmunds.
It was here that he met Wanda, his wife of more than 70 years. She, too, was a newly qualified teacher, working in the reception class. John and Wanda hit it off, and they tied the knot on April 6, 1953, just two months before Queen Elizabeth II was crowned.
The couple’s first daughter, Amanda, arrived in 1956, with Naomi completing the family in 1958.
Wanda taught children with learning disabilities for many years. John next taught at Beyton, before taking up a headship at Stoke-by-Nayland Primary.
In those days, headship came with a house, and so the family lived in the schoolhouses. School and family life blurred into one, and John’s two young daughters would often be pushed around the playground in their prams.
From there, John moved to Great Cornard Primary School, again moving his family into the schoolhouse. After that, he accepted a headship at Pot Kiln Primary School, a brand-new school built to accommodate the overspill of pupils from London.
John was then asked to take on the headship of Westley, Bury St Edmund’s first ever middle school.
Westley was very much John’s third ‘baby’, said Naomi, as John had built the school up from scratch, recruiting a whole new set of staff and building a flourishing school community.
“It was all very exciting. He felt privileged to be part of those initial stages,” said Naomi.
Teaching, and giving children from all backgrounds the opportunities to help them thrive, remained of pivotal importance throughout John’s career. He had high standards for both staff and students and was determined that no child should miss out.
“Dad was fiercely protective of children and their families. It was important to him, even in those days, about equality, and enabling children to fulfil their potential,” Naomi continued.
“He also loved learning. He was the ultimate learner, he never stopped challenging himself.”
Music, too, was an enormous part of John’s life, and something he shared generously with his students, providing them with opportunities to learn and perform.
After struggling to find music suitable for children, John, an accomplished pianist, took to writing his own musicals. In total, he wrote and arranged the music to seven shows, which the students performed at the Theatre Royal in Bury.
“They were all written by hand, every note, every lyric. It was remarkable,” said Naomi. These shows included Pinocchio, Peter Pan, and a John’s particular favourite, The White Cat.
After his retirement, John, had more time to devote to his music and art. Now living in Hadleigh, he ran local choir groups and held exhibitions of his artwork. He was a keen supporter of St Elizabeth Hospice, and had some of his paintings printed onto cards which were sold to raise money for the hospice.
John and Wanda also liked travelling, and particularly enjoyed having adventures visiting Amanda in Jersey, and Naomi and her husband during their time living in Germany.
John doted on his grandchildren. Teaching ran in the family’s genes, and John was proud to see both his daughters go in to teaching, as well as his granddaughter.
John and Wanda were soon blessed with two great-granddaughters.
“He was fascinated by children,” said Naomi. “He was a great storyteller, too, he loved to tell us stories. We were very lucky.”
John remained genuinely interested in everyone he met. In his later years, he built up a great rapport with the carers who visited his and Wanda’s home and made a point of always asking after their families.
John died at the age of 97 in Colchester Hospital on June 2. He is survived by his wife, Wanda, their two daughters, their five grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.
To read more obituaries to people we have loved and lost from Suffolk, click here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here