Great Yarmouth's Victor Ecclestone dies at 73-years-old

Victor Ecclestone, who has died suddenly at the age of 73, was born and brought up in Great Yarmouth.

But it was in the west of the country, in Bristol, where he would come to national prominence in his role as a teacher at Hartcliffe Comprehensive School.

In 1996, he won National Teacher of the Year, and in 2007, then Prime Minister Gordon Brown dedicated an entire chapter of his book ‘Britain’s Everyday Heroes’ to Mr Ecclestone.

The Ecclestone family, who were born and raised in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Supplied by family)

He was born in Great Yarmouth in March, 1950, to Billy, a plumber, and Phyllis, who dedicated her life to fundraising and volunteering.

The family lived on North Drive and he was one of four children with sister Linda and brothers Martin and Ivor.

As a boy, he attended the Priory Junior School and then the Yarmouth Grammar School during the 1960s.

He then studied chemistry at the University of Manchester before embarking on his teaching career in Hartcliffe in Bristol.

As a teacher, Mr Ecclestone believed that people from working-class areas should not be deprived access to the arts - and his powers of persuasion brought some of the country's leading cultural organisations to Bristol to work with the children there.

Among the visitors were the Welsh National Opera, Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

A visit by the Rambert Dance Company in 1996 inspired Mr Ecclestone to start the school's own group, called the Hartcliffe Boys Dance Company which went on to tour the country and then Europe.

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A newspaper clipping of Victor Ecclestone with Darcey Bussell when he won the Disney National Teacher of the Year award in 1996. (Image: Supplied by family)

His sister Linda Turner, who lives in Bradwell, said: "Victor was the one-off I was lucky enough to call my eldest brother, and throughout his life he was a force of nature who could be ferociously persuasive and which he used to his advantage throughout his amazing career to help change lives for the better.

"As always he was a visionary who was way ahead of the curve."

Mr Ecclestone married Pauline in 1984 and they had two children - Benjamin and Emily.

In 2001, he was awarded an MBE for services to art and education. 

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Victor Ecclestone was an inspirational teacher and changed the lives of many of his students at Hartcliffe Comprehensive School in Bristol. (Image: Supplied by family)

After his mother died last year, Mr Ecclestone said her love of music had inspired him and he had fond memories of watching her rehearse for the operatic society.

"Mum had a huge influence on me," he said.

"She came from a large Welsh mining family that were actively engaged in their community.

"Mum taught me the value of education and hard work and independence, values that supported my future career."

Outside of his day job, Mr Ecclestone loved rugby, rock climbing, potholing, sailing, architecture, archaeology, stamp and coin collecting, music, art, opera, ballet, reading and theatre. 

Ms Turner said: "Growing up with Victor it was impossible to escape his zest for adventure. 

"Victor was an amazing man, so intelligent and charismatic with a wicked sense of humour. 

"He adored his wife Pauline and daughter Emily, his son Ben and his four grandchildren, always sending me photos of his family. He was so proud of them all.

"There is no way this vibrant, imaginative man is resting. Wherever he is now, he will be making things happen for the better all around him."

Mr Ecclestone died on October 1 at his home in Bristol. He is survived by his wife, children and four grandchildren. 

His funeral service takes place on Friday, November 17, at South Bristol Chapel.

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