That one teacher or someone who touched your life growing up... let them know!

[FlameNFurter]

Most people have a teacher or someone who was a big influence on their lives. That one person they'll always remember for doing something special.

Most of us never tell that person though - if you can track down yours, please do and let them know what they did for your life.

My person like this was my head teacher during Junior school - he saw the real me, not the shy little girl that the rest of the world normally sees, but more like Flamesparrow (if that makes sense). He gave me the confidence to believe in myself, he did so much more than that too which I can't seem to get into words.

Today I am going to his funeral He will never know how much he touched my life. So please, if you can get in contact with them, tell them - it is horrible knowing it is too late for him to ever know what a wonderful man he was and how much he touched people's lives.

Thankfully I have been in contact with my 'one teacher' for many years. Amazingly she once asked me to write her a reference! I was so touched,.

An amazing woman, she changed my life. If I can be half the teacher she was I'll die a happy woman

Thank you for this. You've inspired me to contact my German teacher at school. She was utterly fabulous.

Mine was an English teacher when I was 12. I had just changed schools and was feeling very lonely and bewildered. Our first English project with her was a kind of 'All about me' and we could really let our imaginations go wild, designing our favourite outfits, writing stories, describing our hopes and dreams. It really helped me settle into that school and get to know people and she inspired in me a love of writing that I still have.

She wasn't at the school long but I often wonder if she went on to inspire others as much as she did me.

When i graduated from Uni i sent my old teacher in that subject a thank you card.

I wrote to my O Level English teacher about 3 years ago, to tell him how important he had been to me. (20 years since he taught me.)

We corresponded regularly for about 18 months, then he died suddenly from a heart attack.

I am very pleased I was motivated to get in touch when I did.

but... how?

My teacher would be from my Infant school and is now retired (and another at secondary but I know where she works). I know her last name (obviously) but not her first - how on EARTH would I find her to write to her?!

I had a totaly inspirational teacher when I was 9. Recently I went onto Friends Reunited and posted that she was a real role model etc etc, and luckily her daughter saw it and put me in touch with her. I was so glad to have had the chance to tell her how inspiring she and her lessons were!
I also had two fantastic teachers for A level - Mr Care (French) and Mr Carrick (Latin). If anyone knows teachers of that name and vintage (1979) in Hampshire, please let me (or them!) know!!!!!

I've just sent an e-mail to my old tutor/english teacher.

He's now a reverend in Southall

Mr Mark Poulson, you were fab!

Quite often you can trace them through friends reunited etc.

I need to track down Jayne Williams - welsh English Lit teacher who terrified me my first year, but I loved by the end of my second year.

MrsGuyofGisbourne, A Mr Carrick was at my school in 1979... yours wouldn't begin with M would it?

I'm still in touch with one of my teachers, who's (only) 10 years older than me, and in fact we overlap re work quite often. She's a star.

Mine was a teacher I had when I was 9,I was moved into his class because my previous teacher had been bullying me.

He was a really great inspirational teacher and although new into teaching became a huge favourite with all the pupils in the school.

He eventually moved and became a headteacher,and really turned the school around.

Sadly he died 3 years ago of a massive heart attack,he was only in his late 50's.

So Mr Gabrys....you truly were an inspiration and I'm only sad to think many more we're not able to have a great teacher like you.

I had this wonderful history teacher when I was in 9th grade....back in 1993.

I was a total history nerd and so were 5 to 6 of my classmates. We were studying the American civil war at the time and really wanted a field trip to Gettysburg. Yes we were total nerds. This was advanced placement US History and Government. The school wouldn't approve it so we couldn't go.

So our teacher rented a van, got permission from our parents and took his 5 little history nerds to Gettysburg for the day one Saturday. He took us out to breakfast on the way there, bought us lunch and then stopped at a diner for supper on the way home. Really had a fun day.

I found out that he passed away a few years ago and felt very sad. I really appreciated what he did.

I'm so pleased this has inspired some of you!

The funeral was lovely - packed even though it was kept fairly quiet. His son held it together long enough to give a perfect eulogy - (I was at school with him, and I could just see the 11 yr old boy without a dad rather than the man he is now ) He talked about the way people talk to him when they realise who is dad is and how much he had inspired them.

An amazing man is gone If even just one of you manages to let your inspiration know, then this thread has been worth it

MartianBishop - I hope you get a letter like Juna has written one day

This touched a nerve. Michael Fountain, my last primary school teacher was utterly fantastic. Unfortunately he died soon after I left the school, he was only late 40's and his wife was left with a young son (actually one surviving twin).

So like flame says, tell them now.

Evenhope - YES! In M road.

MrsG what a small world! I left after O levels in 1979 so it sounds like you were the year (or two?) above me? My best teacher there was Mr McManus for English. There were some bad ones though...we had something like 14 maths teachers one year Were you originally at NG?

Who was your inspirational teacher aged 9? (probably different school)

what if you blame them for making your life miserable?!!!