Tributes paid to ‘magical’ teacher after sudden death
AHEARTBROKEN school community has paid tribute to a much-loved staff member who died suddenly during the Christmas holidays.
John Kynaston was remembered for his “magical energy” and “love, optimism and kindness” by staff and pupils at Rosshall Academy.
He passed away on January 12 after suffering a devastating heart attack on January 5.
John had been Rosshall’s Active Schools co-ordinator since April 2009, making an instant impression with his positivity, warmth and enthusiasm.
Headteacher Alison Mitchell described him as a “remarkable human being”.
She said: “The Rosshall Academy community is heartbroken to hear that John Kynaston has passed away.
“It has been an absolute joy and privilege to work with and learn from John. He touched the lives of thousands of young people and staff with his magical energy, optimism, passion, love and kindness over many years working with Rosshall Academy and our associate primaries.”
John, 61, was passionate about physical activity and was an endurance runner as well as leading pupils in a wide variety of sports and games.
When schools reopened following lockdown, and PE was only permitted outdoors, John arranged cycling, orienteering, cross and country.
During Glasgow’s
2014 Commonwealth Games he arranged for Rosshall pupils to run with the Queen’s Baton.
In 2011, he accepted an Evening Times Community Champion Award for the work of South West Active Schools.
Alison added: “His passion for being active impacted so positively on pupils of all ages, in many sports and activities and in the area of pupil leadership where our sports ambassadors learned so much about how to lead and inspire with kindness and belief in everyone.
“We have been inundated with messages and memories of John’s impact on young people and staff throughout the community and beyond.
“We will miss his presence enormously but his legacy will live on.
“We must never forget his smile, his optimism and the life lessons he taught our young people about values, motivation, teamwork, positivity and the joy in being ‘more active, more often’.
“He was a truly remarkable human being in a world that could use many more of his kind.”
S6 pupil Urooj Chaudhary, Rosshall’s senior sports ambassador, spoke for the school’s pupils, saying: “Mr Kynaston was truly a very cheerful, positive and compassionate member of our community, who brought so much enthusiasm and passion for physical activity with our school.
“Many pupils have fond memories of closely working with him in organising various events and many have remembered the great words he used to encourage everyone to be active.
“He had such a positive outlook and cheered all pupils on in every aspect of school life with optimism, love and kindness.
“He was incredibly dedicated to Active Sports and had such an outgoing personality.
“He has inspired an infinite number of young people and adults, and will continue to in the future through the positive impact he has made to our community.
“As school pupils we are privileged to have worked with Mr Kynaston for many years and his presence and influence will never be forgotten.”
John, who was born in Liverpool, had been married to Katrina for 35 years. Their life together saw many exciting moves, including to India and Bangladesh.
A man of deep faith, John had worked as a missionary and a pastor as well as a PE teacher.
He and Katrina have five daughters and seven grandchildren with one more on the way.
Andrea Crawford, Glasgow City Council’s physical education, physical activity and school sport manager, said: “We cry at his sad sudden passing and our loss but we smile and celebrate all the experiences that John brought to the pupils of the city and his colleagues who were proud to call him a friend.
“He was more than an Active Schools co-ordinator – he was inspirational, motivational, enthusiastic, the personification of all the good sport offers.”
Rosshall’s head of PE Carolina Paterson added: “We are devastated to hear of John’s passing.
“We are privileged to have worked so closely with John over the years.
“His passion and enthusiasm has made such a positive impact on our school community and beyond and will continue to inspire us.
“We are thinking of all of John’s family and friends.”
In August last year, on their 35th wedding anniversary, John reflected in a post on Facebook about his life with Katrina.
“When we met and married we had little idea of what was to come,” he wrote, “and now looking back I’m so grateful for all that we have been able to do together.
“We give thanks to God for His goodness to us as a family.” all