TRIBUTE
TO A LEGEND
Mr.
Hugh Catchpole - M. A., C.B.E., S.I.
(1907-1997)
By Shoaib A. Shamsi
"Great Men and Great Teachers affect eternity;
no one can tell where their influence stops."
It is not easy to write a brief profile of a personality as large
and as extraordinary as Mr. Catchpole. It is also an emotional experience.His
'half a dozen' in the short break, his chocolates, his books in his small
personal library, his detentions, or his line 'Your brother is calling
you’re precious memories for us all.' Hearing of his sad demise,
I could not help travel back in time and picture myself in his classroom;
somebody's death being announced from the loudspeakers and he wittingly
and smilingly saying, "Thank God it is not me." He, undoubtedly, will in
our memories for ever.
Mr. Catchpole lived a great life. His enviable career in education
spans 69 years beginning in 1928 as Assistant Master at the Prince of Wales'
Royal Indian Military College, Dehra Dun, U.P., India. In 1948, he
was appointed Principal of that institution, a position which he held till
1953. He was the founder Principal of Cadet College Hasan Abdal (1953)
and the Principal of P.A.F. College, Sargodha (1958). In 1967, he
retired from P.A.F College, Sargodha and joined Abbottabad Public School
& College as Head of the English Department, a post he held till the
last day of his life.
He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1968, and in 1979,
he was awarded C.B.E. and Sitara-e-lmtiaz for long and meritorious service
in the cause of education.
He was the most generous benefactor of many institutions he had been
associated with. More than Rs. 8 million were donated by him to different
institutions including Ipswich School, Suffolk, U.K., Cadet College Hasan
Abdal, Prince of Wales' Royal Indian Military College, Dehra Dun and Abbottabad
Public School & College.
Mr. Catchpole was a great person, a great educationist and a philanthropist
who
dedicated his life to the service of humanity.
In his will he wished to be buried in Cadet College Hasan Abdal and
to donate
all balances of his account to P.A.F. College, Sargodha.
We salute the real man and a our last respect to the departed
soul.
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Special Thanks to Mr. Zafar
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Last Updated March 20,1998
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Copyright 1998 Abbottonians Old boys Association, Southern Chapter.