Richard ALLEN

A quite amazing headmaster and human. He bound the school together in an almost mythical way. He would appear from nowhere, hence his nickname 'Flash' and was respected and admired by all who came into contact with him.
We were lucky as pupils to attend the school and enjoy a safe, driven environment to study in - with some really genuine, caring teachers.
This reflected in pupils understanding respect and how to be act properly and show good behaviour and staying in touch many decades with each other after leaving Ranelagh - a true sign of good teaching coming fom the top.
A huge part of all our lives and a fantastic school to receive an education from.
Mike Turner

Mr Allen was a firm but kindly patriarchal figure, a prototypical Headmaster.

I was lucky to be at the school during his last three years there and I recall his retirement in 1993 like it was just yesterday. That was a sad time, as is hearing the news of his passing.

My enduring memory of him was the time during assembly that the singing was somewhat lackluster and he intervened, instructing Mr Wilson to stop playing the piano..... He then admonished us for our lackadaisical singing performance and boy once we began singing again was it tenfold better. That aside his ability to remember every student by name was awe inspiring. To this day I still don't know how he was able to do it.

Condolences to his family, may God bless you during this difficult time.

James Hopley

"Mr Allen" came to Ranelagh as an impossibly youthful headteacher when I was 15 and I can still remember his first school assembly there. I wasn't always the easiest 6th former for him to manage, but I remember his calm, kindly and approachable manner, but with an authority that was always clear.

He left a lifelong influence on me, as on thousands of pupils who passed through his care. We all have teachers whom we remember: some with respect, some with less: some also with affection. My memory is respectful, with fondness, and with immense admiration for the way he remembered each of us as individuals, even many years after we'd left. I spent less than 3 yrs under his care, and yet he still knew me 30 years later at Founders Day.

Mr (Flash) Allen was headmaster at Ranelagh during my time there '81-88'. Ranelagh was a great school in those days and I loved my time there. We were the first year of comprehensive intake and I know presented a few new challenges that the school hadn't perhaps had to deal with before. Mr Allen was an authoritarian figure but had a very personal touch. His ability to reach me and help me to make good choices during some difficult times will always be remembered and appreciated. To ultimately be chosen as one of his School Captains was a great surprise and honour and is something I've tried to live up to ever since.
With great fondness, love and condolences to his family
Adrian Odds