Cyril Hood

Cyril Hood, who has died at the age of 90, was born in Southowram and educated at Withinfields School and Rastrick Grammar School. Encouraged by the Rev. C.D. Roberts of St Anne’s Church, Southowram, he pursued further study at St John’s College, York and began his teaching career in 1942. He taught at Copley Council School; Kingham Hill School, Oxfordshire; and St Augustine’s, Halifax, before being called up to serve in the Second World War.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th May 2013, 01:01 BST

In 1943, Mr Hood joined Combined Operations Command with the Royal Signals and took part in the D Day Landings, establishing communications on Gold Beach from HMS Kingsmill.

He resumed teaching in 1946 at Rastrick Common School before moving to St Andrew’s School in Brighouse.

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In 1953, aged 30, he was appointed head of East Morton Junior School, Bingley. He went on to take the headships at Parkwood School, Keighley (from 1962); Grange School, Keighley (from 1967); and Old Earth School, Elland (from 1972) and was the Founder Treasurer of the Calderdale Branch of the National Association of Head Teachers. He retired in 1982. 
Mr Hood’s wide-ranging interests included a lifelong love of football, cricket and amateur dramatics. He played in several amateur sports teams and was a founder member of Southowram Methodist Players, acting, writing and producing shows with them for many years. He was also secretary of the Northern Samoyed Association as well as a shower, breeder and open show judge; president of the Aire Valley Young Farmers; founder chairman of the East Morton Gala Committee; a governor of Withinfields School, Southowram; vice chairman of Southowram Community Centre Trustees and, for many years, chairman of the Shibden Valley Society.

Mr Hood was an auxiliary Methodist lay preacher for Bingley, Keighley and Craven Circuit and a church trustee and treasurer of Southowram Methodist Church where he was married to Lily Markwick in May 1947. Their daughter Janet was born in 1950.

A man who touched the lives of his pupils, colleagues and friends with humanity, kindness and humour, Mr Hood was loved and admired. As a husband, father and grandfather his energy, creativity and love will be treasured and sadly missed.

His funeral service will be held at St Anne’s Church, Southowram on Wednesday, May 15 May at 2.30pm. Lily, Janet, son-in-law Malcolm James and granddaughter Katharine would like to welcome all who knew him.