Teacher and Tartan Army stalwart

Born: September 3, 1953;

Died: May 13, 2019

WALTER Steedman, who has died aged 65, was an inspirational teacher, popular mentor of trainee teachers and Scotland football fan who followed the national team at home and abroad for more than 40 years through thick and thin (mostly fallow years, it must be noted).

He had an abiding commitment to education and its potential to transform lives. After he was diagnosed with cancer, it was telling that he insisted on finishing his round of visits to his students and completing their final reports in his role as their associate tutor.

Education was central to his life and it is no coincidence that Katrina, his partner of 34 years whom he married in June 2017, was also a teacher.

Walter Steedman was born in Glasgow to Walter, a railwayman, and his wife Elizabeth. He was the eldest of five children and became an anchor for his sisters and brothers. After school he studied History and French at Glasgow University, graduating with Honours in 1976. He undertook postgraduate studies at McMaster University in Toronto, where he also tutored. Returning home a year later for teacher training at Hamilton College, he was advised to have his distinctive mane of red hair cut.

He taught at Stanely Green High in Paisley before moving to Hermitage Academy in Helensburgh to set up the Modern Studies department. In 1991 Walter visited the United States under the auspices of the EIS teachers union and the English Speaking Union to view first-hand efforts to incorporate ethnic minority students into the school systems.

Modern Studies proved popular with the school’s students and Walter went on to become Deputy Head of the school, responsible for the young people in fifth and sixth years. He, too, was popular among his charges, who admired and benefited from the care, attention and guidance he offered.

He retired in 2009 and became an associate tutor of student teachers, first at Strathclyde and then at Glasgow University. He greatly enjoyed his new role and another generation of young people learned from his experience in the classroom and were inspired by his encouragement.

His two great sporting loves were tennis and football. He met Katrina at the Western Tennis Club in the West End of Glasgow. He became a much respected and valued member of Hillhead Tennis Club, playing for the first team until quite recently. He took great pleasure in having Andy and Jamie Murray and Martin del Potro in his car as he volunteered as a driver for the Commonwealth Games, European Championships and Davis Cup in Glasgow.

Walter was a talented, if no-holds-barred, central defender in amateur football. His leadership qualities were also evident on the pitch and he gave his all for the team. He was possibly the only player ever to have been booked by a referee for persistent sarcasm.

He travelled all over Europe and beyond to follow Scotland. This could be fraught with difficulty, particularly in the early days when cash was tight and transport and accommodation arrangements were made in the pre-internet age. There were occasional disasters, one of which prompted Walter in his laconic way to suggest that his group of friends should name themselves Hassle Tours.

He declined to wear the unofficial uniform of the Tartan Army, the kilt, on grounds that he was his group’s social worker and had to be properly attired for that role. On his last jaunt to follow Scotland, in Israel, he and his friends were on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. An American tourist approached Walter and asked: “Excuse me, sir … Are you in charge of these pilgrims?” “Yes, of course,” Walter replied with a smile, a nod and a twinkle in his eye.

Callum Stewart, his closest friend from university days who also became a teacher and fellow Scotland traveller, recalls meeting Jim Kerr of Simple Minds in Locarno, Switzerland, where the band were playing a gig and Callum was busking on the bagpipes. Kerr asked Callum to play at the gig and talk got round to where home was. It turned out that Kerr grew up beside Walter and, when Callum mentioned his name, the frontman remembered Walter for setting up and running a paper round, and as a good footballer.

Callum said: “Walter was a doer, an organiser and an includer. He had a dry, self-deprecating sense of humour. He was a leader with an absolute commitment to teaching. He loved observing the absurdities of life, absurdities he was often in the midst of.

“He had a deep love of his family that was reciprocated from the youngest to the oldest. Katrina and he were devoted to each other and, over 34 years, enjoyed so much of life together.” This included deciding to marry in secret in Edinburgh in June, 2017. They stopped an elderly couple on the Royal Mile to ask if they would be their witnesses. Of course, they were delighted to do so; delighted, too, were family and friends who shared in their joy when they heard the news. Afterwards they flew to Spain to walk the Camino di Santiago as their honeymoon.

Walter is survived by Katrina, his father, also Walter, sisters Elizabeth and Carol, brothers Alan and Thomas and his nephews Oliver and Evan.

BARCLAY MCBAIN