Heather McCullough (SCR 1991 - 2018)
When we think back to our best teachers and the qualities they exemplified for us, many would cite out-standing subject knowledge, a love of the subject, a genuine desire for pupils to do their best and high lev-els of organisation, planning and a clear sense of purpose to each lesson. Heather McCullough epitomised these qualities with a level of professionalism that went far beyond our often fallible capacities. Heather’s lessons were meticulously planned and the teaching materials were exemplars of good practice and the envy of many a colleague. Her collection of teaching materials and the quality and extent of their scope prove the seriousness that she brought to her work and the years of work that she invested in her career. Heather’s lessons were crafted with precision and the professionalism ran from beginning to the end of each lesson – Heather simply would not opt for second best and her pupils benefited from hugely impres-sive subject knowledge. Heather’s presentation at Panglossia in 2017 on the Pre-U set text die Physiker was a tour de force admired by pupils and staff alike.
As Head of German, Heather ran the department with consummate efficiency, bringing innovation in the form of a system of easy readers to introduce the younger pupils to more authentic texts. Heather’s eye for detail and knowledge of the small print of syllabuses and arcane policies were unerring – she could be re-lied upon to have digested the complete exam specifications and policy changes and her fine work ration-alising the German and occasional French schemes of work were a case in point. What was most evident was her genuine love of the language and the culture, whether it be the latest book she had read, talking about the intricacies of the language or quite simple the culinary and cultural pleasure of the institution known as Kaffee und Kuchen. Over the years Heather helped organise several joint German and History trips to Berlin where she was able to share her enthusiasm for and knowledge of the city and several gen-erations of MTS boys experienced their first taste of Germany as a result of Heather’s indefatigable work.
It is the hallmark of any professional to keep one’s calm in moments of adversity and Heather's serene temperament gave her an advantage in this respect. However, even the most punctilious of operatives can't legislate for the inexplicable decisions of some pupils when on an excursion, worse still a foreign ex-cursion. As a leader of many school trips to the Rheinland over the years, Heather was not immune from unforeseen “events” such as the pupil who decided to help himself to a bottle of aftershave from the duty free section of the cross-channel ferry as a cut-price gift for his father. When apprehended and questioned by the ship’s purser, the boy’s response was far from convincing. His claim that he was travelling with family stretched the bounds of credulity when one surveyed the late-night lounge comprising almost exclu-sively freight drivers and the one school group. The purser, unimpressed to put it mildly, wanted the boy returned to UK jurisdiction on the next ferry to face the full force of UK law but this would have upset the carefully choreographed journey plans of the whole group. Heather used her powers of charm, profession-alism and calm persuasion to proceed as planned to Andernach and then place the boy on the next flight home from Bonn. To compound his sense of hopelessness he had pocketed a half-empty sample bottle, stamped “not for retail”.
As well as her sterling work as a teacher of German and French (teachers able to offer two languages to U6th level are a rare commodity these days), Heather ran the Fencing squad for many years and partici-pated in many Duke of Edinburgh's Award trips involving overnight and longer stays in various camps and hostels. She was also a highly respected tutor within Walter house. Heather graduated from Queen’s Uni-versity, Belfast in French and German Joint Honours and joined MTS from St Christopher’s School, Letch-worth back in August 1991, completing 27 years of outstanding service to Merchant Taylors'. This kind of long-standing dedication to an institution is increasingly rare these days and such dedication commands our admiration and respect.
It was a great shame that Heather was not able to see out her last term as she had intended, illness forcing her to step aside. She faced her final battle with cancer with typical dignity and fortitude, sadly succumbing in March of this year, depriving her of a well-earned retirement. We will remember Heather as a font of knowledge, a convivial and professional colleague with a mischievous sense of humour and, along with all those she taught, as a first-rate languages teacher.
Richard Bailey
Head of Modern Languages