from the Selwyn College Calendar, 2002, via Mrs May Armitage

E ARMITAGE (SE 1929-32)

Edward Armitage was born in Shepley, Yorkshire in 1910 and went to Almondsbury Grammar School, Huddersfield before gaining an Exhibition to Selwyn to read Natural Sciences. After graduating with a First Class in Part Ia, his Tripos (following which he was awarded a scholarship) and an upper Second Class in his Part II, he gained a First Class BSc in Natural Sciences at London University. He attended the Institute of Education in Cambridge and then spent the rest of his career in education.

He taught Physics and Maths at the King's School, Rochester from 1933 to 1936 and then went to Bradfield College as Senior Physics Master where he stayed until 1940, when he joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve.

During the war he was seconded to the Ministry of Supply to do research and training at the Army Radio School in Petersham, Surrey, where he became head of the wireless wing.

At the end of the war he was appointed as the Headmaster of Soham Grammar School, Cambridgeshire, which post he retained until the dissolution of the school on the introduction of comprehensive education in 1972. He was then appointed Director of the Sixth Form Centre of the City of Ely College and remained there until his retirement in 1975.

He was an active member of the Science Masters Association and was a Chief Examiner in Physics of the Cambridge Syndicate of Examination Boards. He also served as a magistrate for over 20 years on the Newmarket (Cambs) bench.

He was the author of Sixth Form Practical Physics, first published in 1939 and the final sixth edition was published in 1966. He then wrote Modern Advanced Level Practical Physics (1967) and Practical Physics in SI, the second edition of which was published in 1983.

In his retirement he compiled an anthology of written materials describing aspects of daily life as it was before the modern era. This work, The Way We Lived Then, was published after his death at the end of 2001. He was also a regular correspondent to the Editor of the Times and was able to claim the unusual distinction of having letters published as the leading letter and as the bottom letter.

He maintained a keen interest in sport all his life (he represented the College at football and cricket), in particular in the fortunes of Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Huddersfield Town FC, whom he was lucky enough to watch from the terraces in their heyday (1924-26) when they won the First Division Championship three seasons in succession.

He is survived by his wife May, his three sons and seven grandchildren.