Brian Hawthorne, founder of the Devon School of English, has sadly passed away

Brian Hawthorne, founder and former principal of long standing English UK member the Devon School of English, sadly passed away on 18 October 2020 at Torbay Hospital after a short illness.

He is warmly remembered by the many people in the UK ELT industry who knew him. All of us at English UK are extremely sad to hear this news and our thoughts are with the Hawthorne family.

Brian was one of the early pioneers of English language teaching, working as a teacher in his early days for the Elizabeth Johnson Organisation amongst others from the late 1950s. 

He set up an English as a foreign language programme and an early DELTA course at South Devon College in Torquay. He went on to found the Devon School of English in 1971 and was principal and managing director until 2012 when his health forced him to reduce his role and his son Paul succeeded him with the assistance of his brothers. He battled with Alzheimer's disease throughout the remaining years and was cared for by his wife Joan at their home.

Sadly the Devon School of English became a victim of the Covid-19 crisis and entered into a liquidation process earlier this month. 

The Hawthorne family can be contacted via Paul Hawthorne on paulnhawthorne@gmail.com.