I wish to offer my heartfelt condolences on to all of Eric’s family on this sad occasion. I was very touched by your initiation to former students to attend his funeral service. I cannot, as I live in Abu Dhabi now, but I would like to offer this tribute as one of the many, many people whose life he positively influenced. Eric (although I’ve got to be honest, despite the passage of 20 years, it still feels strange to refer to him by his given name as opposed to Mr Wilcock) was my A level English teacher from 1997-1999 and one of 3 teachers who I credit as being a true source of inspiration to me. He was an outstanding teacher who communicated a true and lasting passion for his subject. (To this day I can’t look at a well crafted joke without thinking of his explanation of how modern humour relates to that of Chaucer.) Whilst the calm, kind and authoritative way in which he conducted himself, made the young me think that was the kind of person I aspired to be when I grew up. I also know that I am very much not alone in these sentiments, as I have heard similar things from huge numbers of my peers, including those who have said that Eric was the reason they stayed in school and those who have stated that he was a major inspiration from them to became a teacher themselves. Please accept my deepest sympathies on the passing of a truly fantastic guy, who we were all much richer for knowing. George Callahan