Book of Remembrance of

Dave Perkins

Mr Dave Perkins (1943 - 2022)

Mr Perkins began his QEH journey in 1968 as a German teacher, and in later years a Rugby Coach. He has been a part of the QEH community for 54 years and influenced so many of our students and alumni in those years. We thank him for his dedication to teaching and supporting all students. He will be missed by the entire QEH community.

We are aware of the countless fond memories many of you will hold of this legendary man, and we encourage you to share some of them in this book. 

Book Owner: Abi Purvis
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Rowan Kitt, Fellow of Queens' College, Cambridge

Dave was a renowned captain of the Queens’ College 1st XV in the mid-1960s. He led them to League and Cuppers competition glory, playing alongside the imperious Mike Gibson of Ireland (now an Honorary Fellow of Queens’). Dave attended the Night with the British & Irish Lions at Queens’ in 2016 and gave a …

Andrew Tunstall

I was very sad to hear that Mr Perkins had passed away. He was an inspiration to me at QEH and gave me a lifelong love of rugby and languages, which I don’t think I would have developed without his guidance. They say that rugby is the game played in heaven, so no doubt …

Paul Hutchinson

Chin was my form teacher for the 4th and 5th year (1992-1994) and obviously my German teacher too. I will never forget how, on GCSE results day, as my form tutor he said “I was very surprised at your German result Paul” – I’d received an A* much to his disbelief! JDP made me …

Helen & Roger Hornby

A familiar and friendly face at Failand & Westbury Harriers. Always sporting a QEH jacket and bobble hat! He had time for all and on almost  every occasion he’d suggest (in jest) what rough sorts the boys were and blame the headmaster for the weather! He will be missed. …

Amanda & Miles Wring

One Saturday in Failand, I had a fabulous chat to a gentleman, we talked a while about QEH and lots of sports. Being quite new to QEH, I had no idea who this man was but I enjoyed my chat! When my son came over to me later, I said who’s that man with …

Stuart Cleak

Kinn as you used to refer to yourself. It never ceased to amaze me how you could open the door to a room and start the lesson immediately. Learning German was fun and yet you still controlled the classroom. Those bits of chalk landing on someone’s desk when they weren’t concentrating were unerringly accurate. …

Gary Miller

Mr. Perkins was a huge inspiration for me in many ways . As a German teacher he was amazing . I remember the first lesson where he only spoke German. Das ist die tur. Der Die Das . Burned into my memory. As a rugby coach he would take me to the gym at …

Ashley Pharoah

I was never taught in the classroom by Dave and yet he was one of the most influential teachers I ever had. There was this one time when I was captain of the First XV and we were playing Clifton College at our place. I was desperate to win and came up with some …

Die Familie Langston

All the Christmas cards received from JDP from 1998 onwards were thus addressed.  From 1990-97, we were a Failand touch-line family.  JDP knew most of the parents’ names, and often those of players’ brothers and sisters, too.  He was unfailingly cheerful and affable.  After Oliver left QEH, we moved around the South West but …

David Cumberbatch

I have great memories of Mr Perkins, JDP, Dave, Chin, Polly (a nickname from his own school days that he didn’t seem to mind explaining when it somehow emerged). I retain fond memories of being taught by him about German, French, Rugby, Life and Psychology.  The latter in how he would focus our attention …