Mr Williams spent his early life in the Sunderland area and attended the Bede Collegiate School there for a short time before entering Richmond Grammar School as a boarder.  He graduated B.A. in History at Armstrong College in 1912.  After a period of two years teaching experience at Kibblesworth School he was appointed to teach History and Latin at Blaydon Secondary School on 1st September 1914.

The Great War had already started and it was not long before Mr Williams and four of his colleagues were called up for service in the Army.  Happily, all returned, three to the school and two to other posts.  From 1919, when he gained his M.A. degree, Mr Williams enjoyed a long and successful spell as a class teacher.  There are many for whom History became an important career subject and many more for whom it has been an abiding interest due to him.  On becoming Headmaster in 1934 he continued to pass on his expert knowledge, especially to the sixth form.

He was very popular among his colleagues as I found when I became one and remained my friend as long as he lived.  He had an air of calmness, was courteous and quietly spoken, yet beneath his gentlemanly demeanour lay a strong sense of purpose and achievement.  Many will not know that he was the humorist of the staff room - full of ready wit.  As a schoolboy he had enjoyed the opportunity for sport at Richmond and in the early 1930s we had a lot of fun playing badminton in the Hall, handicapped by the balcony, wallbars etc  but giving him plenty of scope as a tricky player at the net.

When Mr Williams became Headmaster in 1934 he was to have the pleasant surprise of the start of all the extensions we had been waiting for.  Perhaps he was not so surprised when the Second World War came in five years.  Shelters were built, blackout precautions arranged, fire-watching organised etc.  Throughout it all, Mr Williams was as calm and unruffled as usual, and school life went on.

When we called on Mr Williams, as was the custom, at the close of the Summer Term in 1950, we could not know that we were seeing him for the last time, for on 22nd August he died at the age of 63 years.  It came as a great shock to all who had known him over such a long time and who had thought of him as a dear friend, teacher and Headmaster.

Many of you would be pleased to see his son John at the Old Blaydonian Celebration Dinner in 1987.