The sudden and sad demise on the 23rd of July 1957 of Mr. R. C. Patel, Education Officer and Head of Physics Dept. at the Eastleigh Secondary School, cast a pall of gloom on the school. To many of his students and friends, his death came as a rude shock, for he was a first rate teacher of science and mathematics as a popular figure in school circles.

It was at the Duke of Gloucester School, Nairobi that he spent most of his teaching years and a more pleasant colleague on the teaching staff of that school has yet to be found. He had his answers in Physics and Maths at his finger ends, and what was most admirable was his remarkable memory for quoting chapter and verse from the pages of science.

Mr. R. C. Patel, born in 1903, hailed from Karamsad, a little village in the Baroda district. He came to Kenya on his first appointment on the 26th of September, 1928 as assistant master to teach Physics and Maths at Kisumu. In May 1930, he was transferred to Govt. Indian School, Nairobi where he taught Physics and Maths at Cambridge School Certificate level. He was vice-principal of the school in 1950/51. He was promoted to Grade 1 Education Officer in 1952. In 1954 he was transferred to this school, where he remained as Senior Master-in-charge of the Physics dept. until the time of his death.

A long and varied career of 28 years spent in teaching is quite a record. It had its up's and down's, its frustrations and disappointments, but Mr. R.C. Patel in spite of his failing health after 1955 carried on cheerfully, with always a big smile for every one. He suffered from a paralytic stroke in 1954.

He taught even on the very day of his death, but on that fatal evening, he bowed to the inevitable with resignation. He obeyed the call of His Master.

The student world of Nairobi and all those who studied under him, mourn his passing away, but in their hearts, he will be forever enshrined. He was a teacher who contributed in a very rich way to the social, moral and educational uplift of modern youth.

To the bereaved members of his family go our sincere condolences.

From ESS 1957 Magazine