Life Stories
Christopher Willcock
Christopher Harold Willcock (1950 BA History) died on 23 April 2025 aged 95.
Christopher in 1956
Educated at Stockport Grammar School, he came up to Keble after two years National Service, spent mainly in Germany, to read Modern History followed by the Diploma in Education. He represented the College at Athletics, Cross Country and Football 1950 – 1954. His first appointment was as Resident Assistant Housemaster at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, before, in 1955, becoming Head of History and later Deputy Headmaster at the Haverfordwest Grammar School, Pembrokeshire. In 1978, on comprehensive reorganisation, he was appointed First Deputy Head of the newly created Tasker Milward School, Haverfordwest, of 1100 pupils.
Chris was a Life Member of the Historical Association and Secretary of the West Wales Branch. For almost 20 years, he was a Chief Examiner in Advanced Level History and a member of the Curriculum Revision Panel of the Northern Universities Joint Matriculation Board.
His interest in Athletics led to coaching and judging qualifications and he coached many pupils to Schools International level and officiated at over 50 annual County Schools Sports, was a vice-President of the local athletics club and a Life Member of the British Athletics Club.
The Keble College Athletic Club, 1953, with Christopher third from the right on the back row. Photo copyrighted Gillman & Soame.
Always an active member of his professional association (ATL), he served as County Secretary and was a member of many local and national committees. On retirement he was appointed ATL Field Officer for the extensive area of Dyfed – Powys (Mid and West Wales). He was an active member of many local societies, organist at his Parish Church for 20 years, a Life Member of the National Trust and Chairman of the Pembrokeshire Branch, as well as serving on the Parish (now Community) Council.
Recently he researched details of those named on the local church War Memorials. His research into those named on the Keble War Memorials has been deposited with the College Archives.
His wife Dorothy, whom he met at Oxford, died in 2020, and he is survived by his two children and two grandchildren. He is sorely missed.
Kindly provided by his children Ann Popovich and Paul Willcock