The bulletin of Hutchesons' Grammar School once described Andrew Wood as a ''charismatic dominie, proselytiser of the classics, passionate missionary for sport, dedicated year tutor, larger than life figure, Hutchies' own revered Pickwickian Mr Chips''.
He and his ample frame filled the classics rooms at Hutchesons' for more than
27 years. He did nothing by halves: in his profession and his constant enjoyment of life he was zealous, fanatical, loving, ardent, fervent, and avid. His profile was large, both physically and in influence.
He attracted superlatives as much as he loved Latin conjugations. Teaching was a constant source of fulfilment to him. His cheerful demeanour confirmed what he once wrote: ''I would number myself as an eccentric, an entertainer, without any apology. It would be a source of sadness to me if the pleasing eccentricities of teachers were to be dumbed down because they didn't follow this or that guideline, and everyone was playing safe.''
Wood's role for many years was a tutor for second-year pupils, a year he described as ''a year of growing up in every way, a time when pupils undertake the largest number of subjects they will ever study in any year''. His patience and understanding helped coach pupils at different levels of maturity to make the choices which in later years they would specialise.
He unashamedly championed the classics, though also accepting reality: ''Obviously the decline in classics, partly self-inflicted, has been particularly sad. Teachers have found it hard to sell in competition with some modern subjects in gaily wrapped paper.''
His forthrightness was characteristic: ''Teaching should
be more about relationships between yourself and your pupils. A page out of Quintilian and a page out of Goldsmith - and you could shut down all the teacher training colleges
in Scotland.''
For an Edinburgh native born and educated, Big Woodie was ferociously committed to his Glasgow school, and daily commuted from his home in the capital to Crossmyloof.
His passion for classics was matched by his ardour for sport. He believed that playing team games formed an essential part of everyone's education. ''If you're playing them, you might as well play to the highest possible standard.''
His parallel career in refereeing, and rugby and cricket administration, dates back to his own schooldays at Heriot's under games master Donald Hastie, and he early formed the belief that even non-gifted players could be coached into making a substantial contribution.
Secretary in Scotland of
the Association of Umpires and Scorers, he officiated at Hamilton Crescent in 1989 when Scotland played Australia, as well as a number of Scottish finals.
He first watched his beloved Heart of Midlothian at Willie Bauld's last match - March 3, 1962 - on a season ticket inherited from his grandfather. There was some parental disagreement over his football fanaticism, but young Wood won the argument by pointing out that it couldn't be that bad a game since the protagonists included Bert McCann, a
Heriot's teacher, Motherwell stalwart, and a Scottish cap.
He died suddenly in Glasgow, five days short of his 50th birthday, and is survived by his younger brother John, his nephews, Deryck and Iain, and niece Fiona.
Andrew William Wood MA Hons; born December 23, 1952, Edinburgh, died December 18, 2002, Glasgow.
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