Derek John ‘DeeJay’ Bullock, 1926-2009
Educator.
Born in Doncaster England.
He started as an Education Officer in the Colonial Service; his choice of posting was to Nigeria.
He landed Marina , Lagos, on the on the 4th September 1950.
His first posting was to the Provincial Education Office, Abeokuta, where he served under Mr. J.M.M.Osimosu.
By April 1951, he made his first appearance in Government College Ibadan, for one term on relief duties!
A major posting later came as Provincial Education Officer, Oyo, during which time he worked on the Universal Free Primary Education Policy of the Action Group Government.
In May 1959 he reported on promotion, as Principal of Government College Ibadan.
He remained in GCI, Ibadan for a near decade which was the high spot of his career and the defining period of his life.
He was renowned in GCI, amongst other things, for his drama productions in conjunction with St. Anne's School, whose Principal he later married!
DeeJay as he was fondly called moved on to Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro, Yewa North LG, Ogun as Principal from 1968-'70.
He was also to spend time as Principal at the Government Teacher Training College, Ilesha and Abusi Edumare Academy, Ijebu-Igbo.
He was founding Principal in 1973 of Federal Government College, Kano.
He was also on the teaching staff with his wife at Adesoye College Offa.
He married Christine Florence Groves, the Principal of St. Anne's School Ibadan at the time, in the Easter of 1973 in Ibadan.
They both eventually retired to the UK.
He died in Eastbourne, Sussex on 27th December 2009, and his remains were brought back to be buried next to his wife, who had predeceased him, in St. Anne’s Church cemetery Molete, Ibadan on 1st May 2010.
In all he spent over 50 years of his life in the Nigerian education system, most of it in Yoruba land.
*Sourced largely from The DJ Bullock Endowment Fund site with minor adaptation.
Christine F. Groves, more popularly known as Chris Groves, later Mrs. Bullock, came to Nigeria as a missionary educator for the Anglican Church to come and take over from the last principal of St Anne’s School, Molete, established 1869.
She was principal from 1960-1973.
It was during her tenure that the school marked its centenary in 1969.
She placed emphasis, apart from academics, on athletics, drama, music, literary pursuits etc.
So, her girls had options to excel in any or a combination of all these activities, beyond just academics.
For their lifetime of moulding the lives of young boys and girls across Nigeria but particularly in Yoruba land, we salute their memories today.
Kí Olúwa té won sí aféfé rere.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.