Jack Whitehead, a gifted natural teacher, passed away at the age of 98. Jack was a walking fountain of knowledge, and anyone lucky enough to have a conversation with him would learn something new. Despite his abundance of knowledge, he was humble and always wore his intelligence lightly. He spent years teaching in schools in north London, where he developed a passion for writing books on the history of the area. During his retirement, he created a resource for children, encouraging them to learn about their local history through exploration.
Jack was a lifelong resident of north London, having been born in Finsbury Park to Albert and Olive, both of whom were musicians. He attended Tollington Park grammar school and Shoreditch Training College. Jack’s deep love of his place of birth was the inspiration behind his series of self-published local history books, including The Growth of Stoke Newington (1985), The Growth of Muswell Hill (1998), The Growth of Camden Town (2000), and The Growth of St. Marylebone and Paddington (2001).
From a young age, Jack was politically aware and was even involved in the battle of Cable Street in 1936. He later joined the political theatre company Unity Theatre in the late 1930s, where he met his wife, Pat. During one of his stage productions at the New Burlington Galleries in Mayfair, Jack found himself backstage during an exhibition of Picasso’s Guernica painting and studies. The artwork left a lasting impression on his values and political perspectives.
Jack enlisted in the RAF during World War II and was stationed in North Africa to rescue aircrew and salvage ditched planes in the Libyan deserts. He also served as an education officer with the army in Italy for two years. Jack later joined Woodberry Down comprehensive school, where he taught craft and technical drawing. He authored and published a book on the subject, Graphic Communication Made Simple (1985).
Following his retirement, Jack, alongside his nephew Keith Robinson, created a website (www.locallocalhistory.co.uk) to help schools teach local history. Jack believed that by uncovering their natural and built environments, children would discover a variety of unexpected and valuable avenues of learning.
Sadly, Pat passed away in 2002. Jack is survived by his son, Jack; two grandchildren, Susie and Tom; and three great-grandchildren, Abby, Billy, and Ruby.
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