It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Reverend Derek Duncanson, former School Chaplain, who died on 13 May 2024, aged 76. Derek came from a parish, arriving at Bloxham in 1986, and returned to parish work in Peterborough after his time at the School. He was noted for his no-nonsense style and refreshing ability to communicate with pupils and staff in a down-to-earth manner. He built up an extremely strong sense of commitment among his loyal and efficient team of Chapel prefects, sacristans and servers. Two noted elements of his time at Bloxham were his work as Child Protection Officer and the introduction of All School Eucharists.
David Exham, Headmaster for most of Derek’s 13 years at the School, commented when Derek left Bloxham: “How the School will miss him; how I shall miss him! The one person who is probably quite literally at the moment irreplaceable. The Chaplaincy is not a job but a critical vocation, and especially in a Woodard School, and especially at Bloxham.” He will be long remembered for his final sermon, in which he addressed the perennial question posed by Bloxham pupils ‘How long will it last?’
Derek’s funeral – fittingly, a full Requiem Mass – took place at Holy Trinity, Broadstairs, where he had served for many years. The Bloxham School community extends its sincere condolences to Margaret and the Duncanson family for their loss.
