Obituary: Eric Morgan, Contributor To Local Education And Heritage

Published on: 4 Jan, 2018
Updated on: 4 Jan, 2018

Long term Guildford resident Eric Morgan, well known for his contribution to education and enthusiasm for local heritage, died suddenly on New Year’s Day (2018) after a short illness, aged 86.

Last summer Mr Morgan celebrated his diamond wedding anniversary with his wife Sandra and their family. They came to live in Guildford in 1957 and brought up three children, Tanya, Gavin and Candace, on Fairlands Estate.

Eric Morgan, who died on New Year’s Day 2018, aged 86.

In the 1970s Mr Morgan became involved in education issues and served as chairman of the Guildford branch of C.A.S.E (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education).

He served as vice-chairman of Wonersh And Shamley Green Primary School, where he was a very enthusiastic Father Christmas! One year a local farmer flew him to the school by helicopter and another year a parent brought him in on a sleigh pulled by huskies.

For the last 20 years he had been serving on the Surrey County Council Schools Admission Appeals Committee.

Mr Morgan loved the theatre and in the 1960s and 1970s he and his wife attended virtually every production at the Yvonne Arnaud.

When, in 1977, David Clark’s Silver Jubilee Pageant offered the chance to dress up and perform in Shalford Meadows, Mr Morgan took his children along to take part. It was an opportunity to make many life-long friends with whom he would work in the future.

It was after he took early retirement in the 1980s that Mr Morgan was really able to get involved in local issues. He started with the writing and recording of local history articles for newsletters for the blind.

He helped set up the Guildford Town Guides with Marjorie Williams under the direction of the then curator of Guildford Museum, Matthew Alexander.

For many years he organised the Town Guide rota and especially enjoyed co-ordinating and taking school children on tours of the town.

He was a tour guide at Guildford Cathedral for over 20 years and a founder member of the Friends of Guildford Museum. He joined the committee at the outset edited all the Friends newsletters since.

As a scientist and fan of The Goon Show, he had a particularly interested in the crazy world of Lewis Carroll, and regularly gave talks on Carroll’s connections with Guildford.

Above all, Mr Morgan was a kind, patient man who loved his family and always put others first. He will remain an inspiration and will be fondly remembered.