The Reverend George Ridding died peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday at the College of St. Barnabas, a residential community for retired Anglican clergy in Surrey where he had seen out his latter years.   

Born in 1924 and educated at Winchester and Oriel College, Oxford, George Ridding joined West Buckland School as Headmaster in 1968.  He had previously taught at Oundle, lectured on education at St Luke's, Exeter and spent the 3 previous years as the principal of a large school in Mumbai.  During his ten year tenure he took chances, bent rules, thought outside boxes and stood firm against those who were appalled at some of his changes.  The focus of these was a rapid growth in pupil numbers, nearly all local day boys, which he saw as the only way to counter extreme financial pressures.  This policy and the appointment of excellent new staff ensured that when he passed the baton to Michael Downward in 1978 his task was complete and equilibrium had been restored.

George was accompanied at West Buckland School by his wife Elsie who, amongst her other duties, started and managed the Tuck Shop, the profits from which were ploughed straight back into the School.  Upon leaving the school, the Riddings moved to Kuala Lumpur.  On their return to the UK, they moved to Mid-Devon and eventually retired to Shaftesbury where their son was a parish priest before moving to the College of St. Barnabas where they lived together in a small flat before Elsie's passing.

Mr Ponder tells us that he visited George and his son William on Maundy Thursday, when George mentioned that he had prayed for the School every day since his retirement.

George Ridding's legacy will live on at West Buckland School "It would have failed had it not been for him." (Register 305, 1978)