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."
 Mr. Catchpole
 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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Last Updated March 20,1998
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