Tribute to Ron Bailey, 1938 - 2026

Dear family of Ron, I wanted to send my sincere condolences on Ron's passing. I was so sorry to hear that. I attended City of London School, and he was my Form Tutor in my first year, in 1988-89. I remember him as a kind, authoritative man who took great pride in welcoming us to the school. I also remember his fierce pride in his Stoke roots. He didn't care much for my football team Arsenal! He was always very good-natured and welcoming, and he got my start at the school in a really positive way. I'll always be grateful for that. Thinking of you at this very sad time. Warm wishes, Zaki Cooper

Sad news about Ron. He was an excellent athletics and rugby coach. He only got angry with me once when I chickened out of going for a pole vault to get an extra point or two at a meeting, but was very kind when I often cheated at circuit training, only making me repeat! My best wishes to Ron's family.

I wasn't a sporty boy but I remember being summoned to that little room next to the gym and having him tell me that I had been selected for the U11 rugby team. I was staggered! I didn't even really know how to play rugby and when he shouted "good try" at me, I thought he meant I had tried but failed. I only played a few games (I was more of a music guy) but do recall the kind support he gave, even to nerdy boys like me.

Ron and I shared our college years together. We got on really well right from the start and became good, and lifelong friends. We met at Newlands Park College in Buckinghamshire spending two years achieving our Teachers’ Certificates. We both had PE as our main subjects so spent a lot of time in lectures, practical sessions and after lectures in the gym out in the sports field together practicing our gymnastics and rugby skills. We also spent much of our social lives together, sometimes going down to the Merlin’s Cave, a pub in our nearest village, Chalfont St Giles, were we met up with other students and some nice Au Pair girls. We also went off the fairly nearby ladies colleges following up on friendships we had made on College dances when men’s colleges exchanged visits with ladies colleges. Or we would hitch-hike to meet up with nurses at Stoke Mandeville near Aylesbury. We cycled in the locality getting to know the area and we really had lots of fun and spent such a lot of time together. After qualifying at Newlands Park we both decided to apply to Carnegie College for an added year’s course for the Diploma in Physical Education. This was quite near my home in Leeds so I was a day student whilst Ron was resident. He had a good room and I often stayed overnight rather than travel home so spent quite a number of night sleeping on the floor in Ron’s room. We didn’t have quite the same social life together at Carnegie and there was much more to do to keep abreast of college work. I did though spend time with Ron in the swimming pool teaching and training him as this was an area of activity that he was not too keen on, but we got there. After college we both found teaching jobs in different parts of England and we went our own ways. We have however alway kept in touch and followed each other’s lives and we have had occasion visits. I was very grateful when Pat and Ron made it to my 80th Birthday at my home in Mid Wales and it was wonderful to have them here to make my day. I have always been fond of Pat and Ron and I treasure so much sharing Ron those college years and having a very good friendship to help each of us get through those uncertain early days at college and encouraging each other to meet course demands. Whilst we did not meet up that often I did always knew that Ron was there as a good friend, and will now miss him very much. What a huge gap there will be in Pats life and in the lives of all of their family. I offer my deepest condolences to you all. No need to tell you this but what a great chap Ron was. Colin Green

Ron was one of the good ones. He was a brilliant teacher, and a real influence on me at a time when it mattered, and I've never forgotten his kindness. Those trips to Twickenham were the best, even if it usually meant watching Wales come off second best to England. He always made sure I had a ticket and I loved him for it.

I just went looking and dug out my CLS 1B2 first term report. Mr. Bailey filled in 2 rows of it: The first was for Geography: "Lively & interested. It has been a good first term". Indeed, it was a good term. I had thoroughly enjoyed his class. The Trannock Farm 3D papier mache model was not like anything I had done before, and this no-nonsense teacher knew how to mold me as a new pupil at CLS. The second was for PE and Games: "A promising member of the Junior School XV". It was here that I really remember Ron. I had never played Rugby before, and I touched my first odd-shaped ball at Grove Park in September 1984. I immediately loved the game, with Ron teaching the newbies and giving them from the wealth of his knowledge. The trouble with being an orthodox Jew was that I would not play on Saturdays (as it was Shabbat). I ended up with only one "Cap" for the Junior School XV. It involved a Ford Transit ride with Ron (and the boys) to King's School Rochester for a mid-week game. We were walloped, but the energy of Ron on the touchline, I will never forget. The other thing that I recall after more than 40 years, was his lack of patience for BS. When a kid turned up to PE and said that they had "left their kit at home, Sir"......he was having none of it! Boys were made to run around the gym or the Victoria Embankment playground, wearing pants and vests (or something scrounged out of the lost property box). No one ever tried this shtick again! At Grove Park after a wet and muddy afternoon of games, he could be found checking the changing rooms that everyone had taken a shower. He wasn't interested if they were late for the tuck queue to pick up a Wham bar and can of coke, he just didn't want any smelly/dirty boys on the hour-long bus ride back to CLS! Although I stopped Rugby at the end of the 2nd Form (because everyone got big and I stayed small!), and my connection with Ron got less and less, I do recall that he was always a fair person. For me, this was the most important trait that a teacher could have. He is part of my many memories from City, that I will carry with me for the rest of my days. Sending condolences to the whole of his family. Wishing each of them a long life.

Mr Bailey was my first form teacher back in 1981, and was so very sorry to hear of his passing. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.

I dont have many memories of my time at CLS, but most of them involve Mr Bailey and his passion to get us to be the best version of ourselves. Something that has remained with me, thank you Ron! My heartfelt best wishes go to Ian and your family. You have been so blessed.

To the Bailey family - my deepest condolences for your loss. May I just say here that for me - at CLS 1982-90 - Ron Bailey was in a sense the life and soul of the school. He seemed to be everywhere, and doing everything. Form-master of 1B3, Geography teacher, head of PE/sport. There was quite simply no other teacher that fulfilled that range of roles. And he had his own children at the school! I often think of the crystal clear cold morning when he took us all up from Euston on the train to visit Stoke. He was very proud of where he was from. I had forgotten his involvement with the trip to the Brecon Beacons (which I went on in OG in 1982). More happy memories. RIP

Recalling Ron Bailey with considerable affection as a superb athletics and rugby coach during my last three years at CLS. Ron had definite insights into the psychology of teenagers and what motivates them. Listening to his advice, improvement was inevitable. Unfortunately, the stresses of exams - for a rather non-academic youth in the day- meant that I could not dedicate myself to the degree I would have liked; yet, understood by Ron. A great team with the late Brian Crompton and Jim Halliwell. Happy carefree days. RIP Ron

I was in Ron's class 1B3, and recall with fondness his tutorship, models of Trannack Farm, and his vociferous and 'motivational' commentary during rugby practice. A tiny scar on my left knee - the souvenir of a classmates stud going into it during a rugby match - is a permanent reminder of a kind-hearted and respected sportsman. RIP Mr Bailey.

Very sorry to hear this news. Mr Bailey was my form tutor at CLS (Class 1BB) during my very first year at CLS — a formative point in the life of an 11-year-old boy moving from primary to secondary school. As well as being my form tutor, he taught me Geography that first year. My deepest condolences to his family for their loss.

Here's the trimmed version — I cut the redundant rugby line and folded the closing into the scrum story: Mr Bailey was my form tutor at CLS (Class 1BB) during my very first year at CLS — a formative point in the life of an 11-year-old boy moving from primary to secondary school. As well as being my form tutor, he taught me Geography that first year and taught me how to do a proper rugby scrum at Grove Park. I remember him getting into a one-on-one scrum with me as an example for the class. It put me off rugby for life — but I also remember feeling quite proud, holding my own against a grown man and thinking how strong I must be. Looking back, I realise he was probably using about a hundredth of his strength against my full 11-year-old effort, and simply let me believe I'd held my own. I think I spent the next six years at CLS under the happy delusion that I had some superior strength. Being in Bailey's form set me up well for my time at CLS. My deepest condolences to his family for their loss.

Dear Bailey Family. Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss. I had the great pleasure to know Ron. He was my CLS rugby coach for many years and was highly respected by our team and students in general. My lasting memory of Ron is repeatedly being called “A big girls blouse!” whenever things got tough 😁. He was a key figure in my education, providing a great combination of hard discipline, humour and warmth. To this day, his words of encouragement have helped me in my personal and professional life. Finally, in difficult times like this, I like to remember the 1st Law of Thermodynamics: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be transformed from one form to another. As such I am sure Ron is looking upon his family and friends right now with greatest love. All the best. Amir

I am so sorry to hear of Ron's passing. He was an integral part of my memories of CLS between 1975 & 1983. Not a man to mess around with, a characteristic that served him well in such a pit of juvenile misbehaviour as I recall CLS being. I was very grateful to him for his kindness when, aged about 11, I fell and broke my knee in a cross-country run. I was also grateful to him a year or two later for removing me from the front row and assigning me line-out duties instead, once puberty had kicked in and I had grown a foot taller. He was a source of firm guidance and much-needed encouragement to a rugby team (in my year) that had turned underachieving into something of a performance-art form. I suspect the only reason any of us ever actually put any effort in was for him. In that respect, he was very much an inspiration - I remember him as someone for whom you always wanted to try your best. Fond memories. My thoughts and best wishes to his family.

Mr Bailey was my form tutor in my first year at CLS in 1994-1995. I remember him as a no-nonsense, straight-talking but deeply caring man with a strong sense of and commitment to justice and fairness and a deep dedication to his pupils. I do recall one occasion when I found myself in a fight with a boy who was quite brash and bolshy (I'm sure he turned out to be a lovely grown man!). I'm ashamed to say it, but I had punched this boy in the face and was very worried indeed about my fate. My memory is hazy but, as I recall, Ron came into our classroom, looked at me, asked me if I had hit X in the face. When I admitted I had, Ron just chuckled, said he had it coming, and told me not to do it again! Thank you so much, Ron, for the care, support, and encouragement you gave to me and so many other pupils at CLS! May you rest in peace

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