Hans Seelig: papers

He won a scholarship to Southfield school, Oxford, where he excelled in German and music, 1941-1948. After a period of National Service, Sergeant instructor in foreign languages, he went on to study German and French at Worcester College, Oxford University, 1950-1954. He obtained a Diploma in education and teaching practice at Tavistock, Devon, 1955. After a year teaching in a school in Zurich, Switzerland, he became a German master, later head of the German department at the County Grammar School, Hyde, Cheshire, where he also cultivated his interest in music by teaching musical appreciation to the senior forms. He also studied musical composition. He seemed to be well-liked by his pupils judging from the copious correspondence after he departed (1860/1/5). In 1963 he was employed as head of German at Apsley Grammar School, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Some time before 1977 he was employed as a lecturer (later senior lecturer) in German at Middlesex Polytechnic. It is not known when he retired. He died in 2009. In addition to his passion for music as evidenced by his awards for composition and concerts he took part in (see 1860/1/1-2), he was also a keen bibliophile, having amassed a personal library of some 10,000 volumes. His passion for culture was exemplified by his chairmanship from 1993 until his death in 2009 of the Club 1943, the group of German-speaking (mostly Jewish) former refugees who met regularly to discuss issues of cultural, political and historical interest. For this Hans Seelig was awarded the Order of Merit by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1997.