Tributes paid to Shrewsbury teacher 'responsible for the 1960s'

Laurence Le Quesne died on March 2nd at the age of 97. An inspirational teacher and writer, he is most famous for nurturing the talents of the founders of Private Eye when he was master-in-charge of The Salopian in the 1950s.

Laurence encouraged Willie Rushton, Paul Foot and Richard Ingrams to introduce a new irreverend, satirical tone to the publication. The story goes that when Laurence and his wife Mary got engaged she was warned, only half-jokingly, that her future husband was, ‘The man who was responsible for the 1960s’ . The trio went on to be among the first wave of writers and entertainers who challenged the culture of deference to the establishment through humour and satire which characterised the decade.

Michael Palin also used Laurence as the inspiration for the famous Monty Python ‘The Knights who Say ‘Ni!’ sketch. Laurence had a habit of exclaiming ‘Ni!’ as he scoured the library shelves for books.

Laurence Le Quesne taught History at Shrewsbury between 1951 and 1989. He took two breaks between 1956 and 1961 and 1963 and 1968 during which time he took up posts at universities in Australia.

As well as being one of the most influential teachers of his time, Laurence will be remembered for his love of cricket and skill at umpiring. He wrote an acclaimed book about the Bodyline Controversy.

There are also more than 60 volumes of his diaries in the Moser Library which provide a rich and colourful personal account of his time at Shrewsbury.

Tributes have been pouring in to the Salopian Club office. Laurence is remembered as a wonderful conversationalist, compelling speaker and for his gratifyingly loud laugh!