Tony Money with Charles Wrinch in Guernsey

'1928 saw the advent of Mr. C.P.T.Wrinch, whose effect on the intellectual outlook of the school, achieved through the teaching of English, has been nothing less than revolutionary - a truly remarkable example of the influence of a single mind and personality.' Thus A.K.Boyd in his History, exact as ever in his appraisal.

Charles (always Charles to everyone and never given other names) came to Radley aged 22 from Shrewsbury and a classical scholarship at Oriel; with A.K.Boyd he taught English and they alternately produced the school play. As personalities they stood in some contrast, A.K.B. reserved and dry, C.P.T.W. loquacious and enthusiastic; there was something of Wordsworth in the former and of Coleridge ('his flashing eyes, his floating hair') in the latter. Both were vigorously involved in the changes which took place in the pre-war years, the transformation, confirmed by the arrival of Warden Wilkes in 1937, of what Charles described in Christopher Hibbert's History as a glorious country club for both young and older men, into a more serious, purposeful school.

And who can forget from those years the sheer delight of his presence in the classroom, silk handkerchief flourished from the breast pocket, gaze directed towards the ghosts of his heroes - Blake, with his vision of angels on Hampstead Heath, the great and good Samuel Johnson, Matthew Arnold's touchstones and his adjuration to 'see life steadily and see it whole', A.E. Housman, Wilfred Owen - the sheer inspiration of his teaching which never felt like teaching. His stimulating mind flowed into every word he spoke and showed itself in the generous vigour of his bold handwriting, so expressive of his character.

When he was married to Barbara in 1938 and living at Baker's Close in Lower Radley, he used to toil up to college, his bicycle basket bursting with books, and make his home in the Wilson Library, characteristically defending the inadequacies of its arrangements by saying that in looking for a book one chanced on another and thereby increased one's knowledge. (Charles's pronouncements were invariably memorable and unexpected, such as saying that the only people who should be entitled to vote were coach drivers, because they were the only truly responsible members of society.)

All those at Radley until he and Barbara left to go to Raynes Park in 1943 will remember his productions at All Saints of the Dons Plays and in particular his singing of 'Moscow', 'Himmasas' and 'After the Ball is Over', cheered to the rafters and encored, glorious golden memories. And among his school productions there were his memorable King Lear (in which Lear fell ill four days before the performance), a magical Comus in Pups' Field, a School for Scandal and a Pride and Prejudice, as well as open air Greek plays. To all of these he brought inimitable liveliness and the gift of laughter.

When he left to take over as Headmaster of Raynes Park school from John Garrett who had moved to Bristol Grammar School, the Radleian of February 1943 printed the following farewell:

'Radleians, past and present, while condoling with themselves, must heartily congratulate Raynes Park County School on its good fortune, and on the wisdom of its Governors in their choice of Head Master.

It is hard indeed to lose Charles Wrinch, after fourteen years of devoted service: but we recognise that his genius is owed a wider field - wider even than that afforded to him, or created by him, at Radley.

Was ever enthusiasm so infectious, or appreciation and encouragement of the faintest glimmer of intelligence in a pupil, so genuine or so heartening? The stupidest and cleverest alike have had new horizons revealed to them in his teaching: criticism which was always constructive and a breadth of outlook that was never shallow - these were in part the secret of Charles's success in the class-room: but above all there was his love of good literature and the belief that it had something to say to all of us. And out of the class-room - in the Literary Society, in the Dramatic Society, on the stage of the "Old Gym", in Common Room or at Baker's Close, how much, and how freely, has he given, of friendship, of wisdom, of example. "The pace here is terrific", he writes, after a week of Head Mastering: it will always be so wherever Charles goes - for he does not know how to spare himself, and he stimulates into electrical activity any society in which he moves.'

He later in 1951 lectured on Shakespeare in Education at John Garrett's Shakespeare in Schools series at Stratford upon Avon.

Returning to Radley in 1946, his inspiration returned with him undiminished. Of his influence, John Pattisson writes: 'It is no exaggeration to say that Charles opened up to me, a mere mathematician, the world and beauty of literature in a way that has enriched my life ever since. I am eternally grateful to him.' And Tim Rix, another pupil from that time: 'He meant so much in my life at Radley (and indeed completely changed the direction of it!) ...' Of the pre-war period Sir Patrick Nairne writes: 'He was such an inspired teacher because he was unlike other teachers. He taught English literature for the sake of English literature; he was infectious, and one caught the infection - more than that, an addiction for life.'

In 1954 he wrote an exemplary introduction to the Poems of David Raikes, published by the Fantasy Press; and feeling that he needed a new direction, at the comparatively early age of 48 he retired and after a few years moved with Barbara to Guernsey, until he died aged 93.

Those whom the gods love, sometimes die old, the fire of their presence still burning brightly.

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