Today I heard the very sad news that an ex-teacher of mine, Steve Pashley, had died suddenly last night from a heart attack nobody could have seen coming.
He was one of the only teachers I've ever had who showed unwavering passion and professionalism. He never missed a day off work, he put his teaching first every time. I was lucky enough to have him for Drama throughout my time at Priory and English in my GCSE years. His teaching style was wildly different to any I'd encountered, or have encountered to this day. He didn't treat us like school children, he treated us like academics and performers, and wanted to stretch our minds and imaginations. He always succeeded.
Many students will know him not from his work as a teacher, but for his work as a director. It would be impossible to find a teacher who gave more of their free time to the students than Mr Pashley. He worked hours and hours for months and months on productions; Grease, Oliver, Our Day Out, The Crucible, Les Mis. He spent even more of his time on the 'Eisteddfod', which later turned in to the 'Pro' shows. He enjoyed the challenge, and it was brilliant to see how much they meant to him. Being in the green room round the corner from the hall, having Mr Pashley usher you out to stage, and pat you on the back on your return, felt like so much more than a school production.
There are so many memories, it would be impossible to try and name them. His enthusiasm for literature, drama and life shaped me as a person. I know that it did the same for so many others.
When it's someone like Mr Pashley, you can't help but take notes. Here is a collection of some of my favourite Pashley quotes:
'I'm not God.'
'Stop hedging - just bite.'
'Being self depreciative is very attractive. Look at Mrs Pashley.'
'I've always been ugly, it's never worked against me.'
'I was actually an electromagnetic test inspector for three years.'
'It's got to be an A* with orange card!'
'He was like a pizza preparation guy.. ['macho' voice] or a 'PPG'!'
'It's just - off the wall.'
'The Lidls of this world have their place.'
'Do dogs love each other?'
'We live in a global world.'
'I mean, have you ever smelt a small baby?'
'I came from a very yorkshire, working class household.'
'All his language is very ugly..very gauche.'
'Jane [Eyre] is certainly an ogre. She's the lowest of the low..she's an orphan. Like Oliver Twist. You couldn't accuse her of being frivolous..Jane wouldn't wear lip-gloss.'
'It's a hard life as a servant.'
'It's a scalpel, not a bread knife we're working with.'
'It's tighter than a crab's anus.'
'I call myself Pash in those little affectionate moments I have with myself..nobody else does.'
'Oh, pithy.'
'I'll produce my didgeridoo in a minute.'
'Built for speed, not comfort baby.'
'I'm a lust rocket gagging for you.'
'Can you feel the man in the daffodils?'
'Get Pash-onate about these poems.'
'I've never seen anyone looking so grim as you did the other day..I'm brutally honest aren't I?'
And he was honest. But always with that bit of affection, and always with a smile.
In the times I've seen him since I left Priory, he's always shown an interest in what's going on in my life, and always offered his encouragement. A few weeks ago, he popped in to my work -wearing his motorcycle leathers, naturally. We chatted about looming A levels, his dogs and the family. When he went off, he reminded me to keep him up to date with what I'm up to. I promised that I would.
Mr Pashley will always be remembered. He truly was an inspiration and an individual. I know that every person who knew him will agree in saying a massive thank you. We owe him a huge debt, a debt he would have wanted us to pay back with hard work, confidence, fairness and fun. All the things he taught us were so important.
He once said that when he died, he didn't want to go to heaven, because he didn't think they'd let him ride his motorbike fast enough. It was an example of his typical 'tongue-in-cheek' joke that we'll never forget.
Thank you Mr Pashley.
