David Lloyd Alderton – 10th February 2022
We are grateful to David’s daughter, Kate, for this account of her father’s career and interests, and for the photograph.
David and his wife Aileen both attended Queen Mary’s College in London where they took a history degree and following their graduation, David joined the staff at the King Edward VI Grammar School in the Autumn Term 1958 teaching History. He was an inspiring young teacher and encouraged some of us to visit the Records Office, then located in the corner of Angel Hill, to study the documents relating to the school’s history. He also keenly supported our idea of mounting a history exhibition to display on Speech Day. He directed the Dramatic Society’s production of “Hamlet” in March, 1959 as well as two of the plays in ”A Trio of Plays” in 1960 – “Trial By Jury” by Gilbert and Sullivan; and “X = O, A Night of the Trojan War” by John Drinkwater.
Out of school he joined the campanology team at Gt. Barton Church. Two of their children, Mark and Duncan, were born before David left the school in July 1962 to take up an appointment at Colne Valley High School in Yorkshire. Their daughter, Kate, was born there before David took up another appointment in 1967 at Rawlins School, Quorn, Leicestershire. In 1972 David became a Lecturer in Education at the Teacher Training Institution, Keswick Hall, in Norwich. Aileen was also a history teacher, so the children enjoyed visits to historic buildings and battlefields during their holidays.
David became heavily involved in various aspects of Industrial Archaeology and became an important committee member for the Association of Industrial Archaeology. He held various roles during the next forty years, including treasurer, secretary and annual conference organiser. He was instrumental in helping to create and develop the Ironbridge Museum. He was a founding member of NIAS – The Norfolk Industrial Archaeological Society, occupying various committee roles, including Chair, as recently as 2016.
David also published a book in 1980: “The Batsford Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of East Anglia”. He made trips abroad to study the industrial heritage of other countries and even whilst on ‘holiday’ elsewhere would search out any nearby sites to visit. His passion for steam engines never dwindled and he would look for any opportunity to go on a steam train, including using grandchildren as an excuse for ‘Santa trains’.
After his retirement David moved to the Essex area and became a lay reader at his local church where he enjoyed contributing to the community.