In memory of Paul Boyce
Paul Boyce, Judd teacher 1964 to 1997, passed away peacefully at Forth Valley Royal Hospital on
11 th July 2024, aged 88 years. Paul was a beloved husband of Caroline, a much loved father of Jo
and Tim (1978-85) and adored grandfather and great-grandfather.
Paul grew up in East Kent and undertook National Service at RAF Sennen Chain Home Radar Station
in Cornwall, before attending New College, Oxford, where he studied French and Italian, captained
the college First XI football team and met Caroline. After he came down from Oxford, he spent time in
France, married Caroline in 1963 and taught for 2 years at Harrow Grammar School in North London.
During his 33 years at the school, Paul taught French to thousands of boys. He fulfilled roles as Head
of Modern Languages and was Head of Sixth Form for many years, navigated pupils and their
families through university applications and entrance. He was Second Deputy Head at the time of his
retirement. Beyond the classroom, as CCF Squadron Leader he often drove army trucks packed with
rain-soaked cadets along the M4 to adventurous training in the mountains of Wales and was
commanding officer at CCF summer camps. He also ran rock climbing on Wednesday afternoons,
was master in charge of school cricket for 10 years and led innumerable school exchange trips to Le
Puy, cross country running trips to the US and Canada, as well as skiing trips to Italy and France.
South Tonbridge residents until 1987, Paul and Caroline lived in Goudhurst until 2000. For many
years Caroline was an occupational therapist and then teacher at Thomas De La Rue school and the
West Kent Autistic Unit at Cage Green. They then moved to the Dollar area of Clackmannanshire in
Scotland, where they have enjoyed a long and happy retirement.
A service of celebration for Paul’s life will take place at Dunfermline Crematorium on Monday 29 th July
2024 at 1.15pm. Donations in lieu of flowers will go towards the ongoing work of Forth Valley Royal
Hospital Acute Stroke Unit and Médecins Sans Frontières. Please ask the school office if you would
like further details.