To the memory of David Parish 1934-1992

To the memory of David Parish

We all have people in our lives who have influenced us.

They have made us what we are, they are parents, grandparents and teachers, amongst others.

David Parish was a teacher at South Chadderton Secondary School where I attended in 1961 at the age of eleven.   The school was in or near a mysterious town called Oldham in Lancashire.

David taught PE & RE neither of which appealed to me, indeed I was often punished for "forgetting" my PE kit and, as I grew older, would argue about religion!

But as teachers do, he opened my eyes to many things, the theatre, poetry and literature.   He led school trips, mountain climbing and hiking and instilled in me a love of the outdoors, the landscape and the natural environment.

We remained firm friends until his sudden and unfairly early death in 1992.

On the Island of Iona may be found a seat near the Abbey, put there by Judith, his wife, to his memory.

I made this chair in his memory, it is in the Parish church in Heptonstall near Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire.

I am who I am because of David Parish.