Robert Alfred Gaskell (1910-1992)

Robert Alfred Gaskell LBY1-PTY was born on 21st December 1910 in Upholland, Lancashire. He was the second son of Margaret Shacklady and Robert Gaskell, a coal miner (hewer) at the Blaguegate Colliery in Skelmersdale. 

The family were living at 254 Ormskirk Road, Upholland according to the 1911 census and the 1921 census. In 1930, Robert’s mother died when he was only 19 years old. 

Instead of following his father down the coal mines, Robert took an entirely different career path and became a teacher.  By 1932 at just 22 years old, he was the Deputy Head at St. Cuthbert’s school in Halsall. 

 

He married Irene Chisnall in July 1935 at Ormskirk Parish Church and they lived in Grimshaw Lane, Ormskirk. When the 1939 Register for England and Wales was taken on 29th September,  Mr. Gaskell, his wife Irene, his father, Robert and Agnes Browne, an evacuee, were living together at this address in Ormskirk. His occupation was given as a teacher of mathematics and rural science. 

Halsall School Log Book 1940

One year later, almost to the day, on 27th September 1940, Mr. Battersby, the headmaster at Halsall school at the time, made the following entry in the School Log Book:

Mr. Gaskell was a volunteer serviceman (2595933)  who worked in the Royal Signals Corps before moving to the Educational Corps. Whilst he was in the Army, serving his country, his father died in 1941. Happily, though in 1944 Robert and Irene welcomed their son into the world.

Halsall School Log Book 1946

It wasn’t until January 14th 1946 that Mr. Gaskell officially returned to his teaching post at Halsall. Mr. Battersby again noted this in the school log book:

Mr Gaskell and teachers at Halsall School

 

He continued to teach at Halsall school and was promoted to headmaster in 1957 on the retirement of Arthur Battersby.

 

Mr. Gaskell headed the school until 1971, when he also retired.

Obituary of Mr Gaskell, 1992

He was living in Scarisbrick at the time of his death in 1992 and the following is an obituary taken from the Ormskirk Advertiser on 14th May 1992. He is still remembered today by former Halsall School pupils as a kind, genuine and fair man.