Peter Rogerson, a former head teacher of Shildon Sunnydale School, passed away on 11 April aged 74 years.
Born in Sunderland on 11 May 1950, he passed the 11 plus and attended Bede Grammar School, where he did well academically, his three favourite subjects being Geography, English and History.
After completing his ‘A’ Levels he studied English at Hull University.
In 1971 he met his future wife Janet at a Valentine’s disco and by chance they met again the following evening. Thus began their fifty four years together.
They married in 1973, a year Peter could never forget because Sunderland won the FA Cup final.
In 1975 their daughter Elizabeth was born, followed in 1978 by son Thomas.
After initially settling in Hull the family moved to the North East in 1981.
Peter then progressed in his teaching career from Belmont Comprehensive, to Chester-le-Street and finally to Shildon Sunnydale in 1987.
He remained at Sunnydale until his retirement in 2003.
Peter loved Sunnydale and the Shildon community, valued his colleagues and had a great affection for his pupils.
He gained promotion to deputy head within a few years and continued to progress within the school.
Around 1994, he took over as acting head and eventually made head teacher.
When he was appointed head teacher he fostered an ethos of mutual respect throughout the school.
He loved teaching and being a presence around the school and accompanying the pupils on trips to Howtown in Cumbria and abroad.
Sunnydale became one of the most improved schools in the region.
Following this success, Peter was invited to take part in a Panorama television program, discussing how to address the lower attainment of boys, called ‘Boys Aren’t Working.’
He also took a lead role in the Single Regeneration Budget project, an ambitious and well financed five year scheme designed to resuscitate the community.
The aim was to strengthen and broaden education, improve facilities, better integrating social and health provision and triggering more private investment to help the town to move forward.
Working with colleagues across the local authority, the school had to manage and initiate the large number of educational schemes put in place.
There were also broader developments pioneered by the district council and enthusiastic townspeople – the biggest of these was the Locomotion Railway Museum which was seed funded by S.R.B.
Through a shared love of cricket Peter was a regular at Shildon Railway Cricket Club for many years watching his son move through the junior teams and playing for the first and second teams.
In retirement, amongst travelling and enjoying his garden and grandchildren, he also maintained a passion for poetry, leading a poetry group for the u3a in Bishop Auckland.
He enjoyed preparing for these monthly sessions and built up a very strong following.
Peter’s funeral will be held at Wear Valley Crematorium, Coundon on 6 May at 12:30pm, followed by refreshments at Heighington Village Hall and all are welcome.
Family flowers only please.
Donations, if desired, can be left for The Little Princess Trust.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
