Brian McGowan Obituary

Brian McGowan passed away at the age of 53 after a prolonged illness. He was a well-loved teacher who inspired and enthused his students whilst earning the respect and admiration of his peers. Brian taught at La Sainte Union school in Highgate, North London from 2005 until 2014 where he was well-known for his captivating assemblies, his extensive knowledge, and his unwavering support for his students. It was especially important for him to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds enter top universities.

Brian’s gift for teaching enabled him to maintain these qualities in other senior positions, including as an assistant headteacher, head of history and director of sixth form at Hackney New School from 2015. Students were drawn to him, and he was always professional, compassionate and patient. His last roles were as head of sixth form and assistant headteacher at St Angela’s Ursuline school in Forest Gate from 2020.

Brian was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, the youngest of three children of Patsy (nee Helferty), a school supervisor, and Jim, an engineer and foreman. His education began at St Columb’s College in Derry, and he then studied law at Manchester Polytechnic before following his passion for Italian and French, which led him to a year in Rome, where he began his teaching career. He trained to be a teacher at Bristol University and quickly secured a teaching job at Peter Symonds College in Winchester, Hampshire, where he was known as a skilled storyteller.

Although Brian initially taught French and Italian, he became a highly accomplished teacher of politics and history, subjects he had a keen personal interest in. In fact, his love of complex topics and in-depth knowledge also extended into extracurricular interests, such as football and psephology. Brian was an avid Manchester United fan, and despite living near Maine Road, he tolerated the sound of the Man City crowd. He also supported Derry City whose success in the 1980s he had the pleasure of experiencing firsthand. Derry City won the FAI cup on the same day as his passing.

Brian was a dedicated socialist who campaigned regularly on the doorstep in Islington. In 1997 he signed nomination papers for the “Literal Democrat” candidate Richard Huggett in the Winchester byelection. Brian met his future wife, Livia Harris, at La Sainte Union, and they married in 2007. Livia survives him, along with their daughters, Tilly and Cecilia, and his siblings, Paul and Donna.