It was with deep sorrow that we reported the death of NAHT Assistant Secretary Ian Foster on Christmas day, following the injuries he sustained in a car accident on 4th December.
On 22 January the Times Education Supplement published a fitting tribute to our friend and colleague, and extract of which appears below. Please follow the link below the extract to read the full obituary.
"...in the 1990s he became branch secretary for the NAHT in Herefordshire, complemented by a year as Herefordshire branch president in 1994. In 2000, he was elected president for the West Midlands region.
Such roles were inherently suited to him: he had a natural charisma that made him easy, comfortable company. On catching sight of Mr Foster in a room, colleagues inevitably - and immediately - sought him out for conversation.
But as well as being entertaining company, he was also a natural listener. When troubled members approached him for advice, he would rarely offer it. Instead, he allowed the headteacher to talk, asking occasional pertinent questions. Often, this was exactly what was needed: he subtly directed heads to their own conclusions.
But his interest in union work was political as well as personal. In 2005, he was appointed vice-chair of the NAHT's primary committee. Here, he was responsible for determining primary-related policies, vital to the union's largely primary membership. It was he, for example, who wrote the union's response to Sir Jim Rose's recent review of the primary curriculum.
He thrived on detail: few knew more about primary policy than he did. Whenever Mick Brookes, current general secretary, wanted to test the wisdom of a primary-related idea, he would approach Mr Foster. Consensus was that if Ian Foster approved something, it was likely to be OK.
Union work left Mr Foster little free time. But he made a point of going hill-walking regularly. He also enjoyed cooking: his rabbit stew was renowned among colleagues. And he was a dedicated supporter of Oxford United FC: "Well, someone has to be," he said."
Extracted from TES obituary, published 22 January 2010.
