Educationist: Born February 4, 1921; Died Augst 8, 2008.
Frederick Richard Austin Morris, who has died aged 87, was the former principal of Dumfries Technical College who late in his career travelled to Africa to become head of Botswana Polytechnic.
Known as Dick to all his family, friends, colleagues and students, he was born in Platt Bridge village, by Wigan, and lived as a devoted husband to Emma, his sweetheart from the early days of the Second World War, to nearly their 65th wedding anniversary in Dumfries.
After schooling and scholarships, he graduated to teach at St Helens Technical College before being called up in 1941 to the RAF. In December 1941, he was fast-tracked to officer status. He then had five years as station officer (electrical), serving at bases as diverse as RAF Bircham Newton in Norfolk, RAF Reykjavik in Iceland, RAF Mawgan on D-Day and RAF Leuchars, where he was discharged in 1946. He served in Coastal Command and had fond memories and stories from RAF 120 Squadron (including early research on automatic take-off and landing).
He went on to forge a career in further education, starting in Carlisle Technical College in 1947 and moving to new-build premises in 1953. He rose to be the head of the electrical engineering department.
In April 1961, he was appointed to be the principal of Dumfries Technical College, its first head.
He oversaw the development of the college from a core staff of about 30 to an enlarged staff of 120 plus, to its move to new premises at Heathhall in 1971. He had a significant influence on its design and layout.
Morris developed, in this period, a close rapport with students, known to them and addressed by them as Dick.
He was also involved with the Scouting movement, and had a love of the hills and walking, particularly in the south-west of Scotland, developing Castlemaddy, by Carsphairn, as a centre for students and the Scouts.
As college principal, he forged links with the Frans Jurgens Schule in Dusseldorf, Germany, less than 20 years after the end of the war, saying much about his outward and progressive thinking, and many exchange visits took place over a 15-year period.
In 1979, he agreed to a four-year contract with the Overseas Development Agency as principal of Botswana Polytechnic in the country's capital, Gaborone. He made many friends there.
He travelled extensively - to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia - on business and met many dignitaries, including the late president of Mozambique.
On his return, after many adventures in southern Africa, he did not retire but continued his engagement with the Scouting movement, taking a number of troop trips abroad. He also tutored for the blind and had membership of many institutions, including the Dumfries Philatelic Society. But the Scouts were foremost and he was a troop leader and district commissioner.
During this period he also researched his family history and wartime exploits, writing a number of memoirs and publishing articles on both.
He was a devoted family man who took great pride in his children. He was a diligent carer for Emma over the past 10 years. He had always supported her in her activities for the WRVS, including being present, albeit for a short time, at the Lockerbie disaster.
He was a regular church- goer at Maxwelltown West in Dumfries for more than 40 years. He is survived by his wife, three children, five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and sister Margaret.
His humour, stories, humanity, appreciation and kindness to all will be missed, as will his presence in the Clachan Bar, St John's Town of Dalry, and the New Bazaar and Troqueer Arms in Dumfries.
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