Derek A Cropper (Taught Latin and French 1952 - 1962) affectionately known as Doug by the boys. Passed away on the 19th April 2020, aged 93

Some reminiscences by Richard Cropper - Derek's elder son, a pupil at QEH 1959 - 1966:

When my father first started teaching at QEH he would arrive riding a motor scooter with the registration OTO which gave rise to some boys calling him Otto.

He left QEH to become Head of the English Dept. at Kingswood Secondary Boys' School. However, I think he decided to leave QEH because one day, while he was teaching, he heard from the next door class-room the teacher shouting "Cropper, shut up!" And a few minutes later, from the class-room on the other side, "Cropper, detention!" (My younger brother and I were both pupils). 

He continued studying ancient Greek with a friend until just before his death. They wanted to finish reading Homer, and although he realised he would not complete the task, they continued cheerfully.