I was born at Spa Villa, Newtown and left Tewkesbury Grammar School over sixty years ago. I served three years in the RAF at Schleswig Holstein, Germany before attending King Alfred’s College, Winchester to qualify as a teacher. My subjects were History and Physical Education obtaining a Diploma in the second subject. I am also a graduate of Exeter University.
My first appointment was to Hayling Island Secondary School, Hampshire although I worked for two terms at the primary school prior to the opening the new school. I remained there for eleven years gradually working my way up the hierarchy.
In 1972 I was appointed Deputy Head at Daubeney, 9-13, Middle School, Kempston, Bedfordshire, also a new school. Four years later I began to apply for a Headship and eventually was appointed to open a new 9-13 Middle School in Tiverton, Devon which became known as William Shapland Middle School with thirty pupils having special educational needs. Before the new Middle School opened I worked at Tiverton Grammar School for a year. Eventually and ever predictably there was a reorganisation of schools in Tiverton resulting in the closure of the Middle School.
In retirement I have various hobbies and interests; mainly family history and sport, particularly golf and cricket. I am the authority into family research into my own surname which apart from the Irish families has origins in the Quantock Hills, Somerset. More information can be discovered www.one-name.org/name_profile/hurley/ DNA results indicate that my branch of the family were original British settlers.