It is with enormous sadness that we record the death, in Ireland, of Fr Bill Clarkson on Tuesday 3 March 2009 after a short illness. 

Fr Clarkson was appointed Headmaster of Princethorpe College in September 1969. A naturally gifted schoolmaster, he graduated in chemistry, which he taught to A-level, alongside religious studies. Saturday mornings would always see him on the touch line supporting the 1^stXV and he was an accomplished and enthusiastic golfer. Equally at home with pupils, colleagues and parents, “The Boss”, as he was universally known, commanded instant respect and was someone who managed to combine being a strict disciplinarian with a sense of compassion, humour, kindness and great humility. Bill Clarkson’s faith played the largest part in everything which he did and the ethos which is central to the College today is in no small way due to his leadership and example. Pupils who had failed at other schools triumphed when Bill Clarkson gave them a second chance and few of them let him down. 

William Joseph Clarkson was born in Collooney, Co Sligo, in 1932 and took his first vows with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) in September 1951, being ordained priest in 1956. The early part of his ministry was served at St Bede’s College in Leamington Spa and he transferred to Princethorpe in 1966 to become Dean when the new school opened under the leadership of Fr John Kevin Fleming MSC. In 1969, he was appointed as Fr Fleming’s successor and his twelve years in post made him the longest serving head. He left Princethorpe in 1981 to become the Deputy Provincial of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart where his fine administrative skills were used to look after the well-being of the Province. He travelled extensively in this role and after a brief sabbatical became a Parish Priest in Texas, though the climate was never terribly to his liking! Ultimately he found himself back only a stone’s throw from Princethorpe with responsibility for the parish of Wappenbury. On retirement he returned to Ireland and was involved with retreat work in Waterford before taking life a bit easier in Galway. He was never a great one to relax for too long and always enjoyed being too busy rather than not busy enough! 

Princethorpians from all round the world kept in touch with Bill Clarkson and many would divert their journeys to call in and see “The Boss” for a cup of tea and to chat over old times. 

We send our deepest sympathy to his family and confreres.

There will be a service in the Chapel at Princethorpe in memory of Fr Bill Clarkson on Sunday 19 April at mid-day, after which there will be a buffet lunch in the Sixth Form Centre and the opportunity to have a tour of the school. There is no charge for the lunch but there will be a retiring collection in support of the MSC AIDS Ministry in South Africa.  

It would help us enormously to know how many to cater for, so if you are likely to attend the service would you be kind enough to e-mail melaniebutler@princethorpe.co.uk by Wednesday 15 April, please?