Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Humble and dedicated teacher
A former primary school head teacher described by loved ones as an inspirational role model has died.
Popular Cyril Bohringer taught in Dunkirk during the 1950s, before taking charge of Littlebourne Primary School and then finishing his career at Briary in Herne Bay.
The 95-year-old was a wellknown and active member of the Sturry and District United Church.
On July 5, the former Navy signaller died from heart problems at his home in Twyne Close, which he had shared with wife Gwen for 50 years. Daughter Cathy Butterworth said: “He was a wonderful father and supported the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “He was a very positive person and made the best of what he had. People saw him as a role model.
“He started from humble beginnings, but learned to be a teacher and progressed through life achieving and giving a lot. We think of him as a self-made man.”
Born in Tooting, south London, Cyril left school when he was 14 and worked as an office boy for a major shipper in the capital.
He and Gwen were childhood sweethearts and married when they were both 19 – four years after they first met. Following a stint as a junior auditor, he was called up to serve in the Navy in 1943. Cyril was stationed in allied waters for the duration of the war, working as a signaller on aircraft carrier HMS Striker before taking a role on a minesweeper in the North Sea. “My mother convinced him he had the potential to go on the fast-track teacher training programme after the war,” Cathy added.
“Once he was a teacher, he rose through the ranks and they moved to Kent.”
The couple first lived in The Ridgeway in Boughton-under-blean, before upping sticks to a new-build property in Sturry in 1966, where they stayed until Gwen’s death in 2016. Cyril taught at a number of schools in Kent and helped to establish Briary in 1973. He spent 12 years as the primary’s head teacher, before retiring in 1985.
“The pupils all seemed to love him and when we’ve bumped into people over the years, they’ve all wanted to say hello to him,” Cathy continued. “He wanted to support all children, whatever their academic ability.
“He recognised children’s talents and helped to make the most of them, whether or not they were academic.
“He epitomised what it means to be a lifelong learner. In spite of his humble education at school, he carried on throughout his life learning right up until the end.”
Cyril leaves behind three daughters, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His funeral, which was just for close family to attend, took place on Wednesday.