Geoffrey Victor Drought: Geoffrey Victor Drought OBE who died recently aged 74, was an outstanding teacher and senior regional government figure whose lifelong passion for education served to enthuse and enrich the lives of many in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
He was also a raconteur, fisherman, sportsman and family man who will be remembered for the warmth of character and wit he brought to the diverse communities in which he lived and worked through the years.
The second child of Victor Drought and his wife Katherine, Geoffrey was born in Dublin on July 9th, 1933. His elder sister, Desiree, died tragically aged 21 on August 10th, 1947.
After his early schooling in Castle Park School, Dalkey, he attended Portora Royal School, Enniskillen. His enjoyment of games, particularly rugby and cricket, developed at an early age as did his talent for drama and his immense capacity for humour.
He studied Latin and French at Trinity College Dublin and while there took his first steps into teaching with a part-time post at his old school, Castle Park.
Following graduation, he moved to Lyons in France where he worked at a small mixed secondary school and played rugby for Lyons University, as well as singing in the university choir.
Following his return to England, Drought took a full-time teaching post at Wrekin College in Shropshire, where he taught French, Latin and Greek. It was during this time that he married Jill Jackson on September 2nd, 1961. He continued at Wrekin until 1966 when he realised he could end up as a housemaster for life. So he applied for a post as an assistant educational officer in Warwickshire where he was given responsibility for special schools and school meals.
His first Scottish post came in 1969 when he was appointed junior deputy with Dundee Corporation responsible for further education, youth and community work and preparations for raising the school-leaving age from 15 to 16 years of age.
Drought's life's work was driven by a fundamental belief in the power of education to change lives. His record of innovation in Scottish further education was legendary, culminating in his appointment as deputy director of education for Tayside. It was during this tenure that he was awarded an OBE for services to education in Scotland.
An opportunity to move up the final rung of the career ladder, along with a desire to live closer to ageing relatives, led Drought to leave Scotland for Gwent, Wales in 1985. In his new position as director of education, a senior colleague said, "he showed exceptional skill and dedication in leading the authority through a period of reorganisation. He was a magnificent speaker with a tremendous sense of humour which meant he could hold audiences at all levels in the palm of his hand. And he educated people - he taught them what they could be and do. Because of that he was greatly loved by those who worked with him."
Outside of work, Drought was an accomplished public speaker who donated all his fees to charity. His father had introduced him at an early age to the delights of fly fishing on Lough Dan and he continued to fish throughout his life, accompanying friends on regular trips to Glen Affric. Throughout his time in Scotland and Wales he played an active part in local associations and organisations.
In retirement, after a brief spell in south Devon, Drought and Jill returned to Scotland and lived in Gilmerton by Crieff in Perthshire where he became a central figure in the Episcopalian Church community.
He recently completed a private memoir for his family which concluded with the lines: "When I look back over my life I can honestly say that I have been well blessed - in childhood a loving family, good and loyal friends and family as a young man, a marvellous kind and loving wife and children with four grandchildren. I thank God for all His goodness to me."
Geoffrey Drought died on September 21st at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, following a long illness borne with courage and humour. He is survived by his wife Jill, his children, Danielle, Fiona, Andrew and Patrick, his grandchildren Kate, Joe, Rosie and Ben and his beloved sister, Margaret.
A memorial service will be held in St Columba's Episcopal church in Crieff at 11.30am on October 27th.
Geoffrey Drought: born July 9th, 1933; died September 21st, 2007.