I was a pupil at Willowfield Junior High School between 1964 and 1968. He was the best headmaster I ever had. He was one of three significant men in my life who showed me how to become a man. I owe this great man a debt of gratitude.

Truly a great teacher, if the UK had many like him the country will be a far better place.

I was very sad to read that Alan Foster has passed away. I was at George Gascoigne from 1956 to 1961 and Mr Foster was my English teacher and then form teacher in 5X.He was a wonderful teacher and we pupils had a great respect for him.

I received free school meals (a rare thing then and an embarrassment to me) but Mr Foster always dealt with it discreetly and none of my fellow pupils were aware.Also, when a visit to the Old Vic or a school day trip was arranged he would quietly tell me that the cost would be paid out of school funds.

When I heard that his 80th birthday was approaching I was able, through ‘Friends Reunited’, to gather a large number of messages from former pupils of Gascoigne and Willowfield. These I printed out and put into a large birthday card, which he was delighted and moved to receive. I later went to see him and was pleased that after so many years I could thank him for his kindness.

My condolences to the family.

I began my secondary education at George Gascoigne School back in 1958 at a time when most pupils left school aged 15. Fortunately Gascoigne had an extended course for those wishing to take GCE’s and they stayed on an additional year, moving into a form always known as 5x. Mr Foster was the 5x teacher specializing in English Language & English Literature and was certainly the TOP MAN in those subjects.
During the summer term of 1962 and just prior to my joining 5x he, with his wife and two young sons Byron & Graham, joined us all on the annual school holiday to Switzerland and I can still recall the endless days we all spent playing cricket under a blazing sun on the banks of Lake Lucern and the occasion when together we both swam out to a raft moored some way out in the lake and lay their together recovering for a while. I can still see him laying there in his black trunks and in a breathless voice turn to me and say “this is the life Mac!”. He was 39.
I left in the summer of 63, but always knew where to find him, although it was some 17 years before I was to catch up with him again. I had decided to arrange a school reunion back at Gascoigne, which at the time was a teacher’s centre, music centre plus several other things and needed his advice as to the best way to tackle it. Well with one quick phone call “Foster had fixed it” for me anyway and on cup final day 1980, 170 ex pupils and seven or so old staff members, including Mr Foster, had a great evening together reminiscing about old times. I caught up with him again in 1990 at a fund raising evening at my old boys club in Grove Road and as I walked in he appeared from nowhere with a shout of “Mac”. What a lovely surprise it was to see him once again and looking so well.

Thanks for everything Mr Foster - you were “SIMPLY THE BEST” - Mac

Thank you for all your encouragement.....truly my happiest time at school.

Rest in peace.

Karen Richards, Willowfield JH School

Thank you Mr Foster, you was the best teacher i ever had!

Im 47 now and i still recite the poems you made us repeat over and over, and now i realise the meaning of these special words!

Rest in peace you were the best!

With much love Julie Davies (willowfield school)