130 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
OBITUARY NOTICE
John Francis Hayward 1910-1958
When Dr. John Hayward joined the Essex Field Club in 1955 the Club's
activities in the geological field received a very welcome stimulus and its
journal began again to record the results of work on local geology for which
it had been valued in past years. But alas we were not to be allowed to
enjoy the regular appearance of Hayward's papers for long, because very
shortly after he had submitted to the Editor the papers which appear in this
number we were all grieved to hear of his sudden death on January 2Gth, 1958.
To appreciate John Hayward one should know something of his father
Dr. F. H. Hayward, who was an Inspector of Schools and an outstanding
educationist of his day. With some thirty books and numerous pamphlets
to his credit his influence was widespread, particularly in the middle years
of his life.
John had no desire in his youth to follow his father's footsteps, to con-
tinue his studies and to instruct others. He wanted to make his own way in
the world and the farther he got from educational questions the better. It
was therefore suggested that he should enter an insurance company and in
due course become an actuary. The idea was good in theory but John found
himself in an office doing work which did not appeal to him and having to
spend his evenings grinding at higher mathematics which he detested. There
was no time for other interests, which in the circumstances could only be
regarded as dangerous distractions. He decided instead to follow his own
inclinations and to spend his leisure hours on science, natural history and,
above all, on geology. As a child geology was his hobby and as he collected
fossils and rock specimens it became an absorbing interest.
Once John had decided to follow his own bent his imprisoned energies
were released and, without relinquishing his job, he studied to such purpose
that in 1934 at Birkbeck College he took his B.Sc., becoming M.Sc. in 1940
and Ph.D. in 1942. He lectured at evening institutes, joined in the activities
of scientific societies and carried out field work on his own. When the war
came he received a commission in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical
Engineers and eagerly absorbed new scientific techniques. On demobilisation
he entered a training college and became a teacher. The decision was a
happy one; science and geology were his chosen subjects but the forces of
heredity were strong and they led him into the field of education. The two
Dr. Haywards—father and son—who died within four years of each other—
were alike, men of indefatigable energy, born students and lecturers, able to
share with others the enthusiasm which glowed within them.
John Hayward taught at Bancroft's School for six years and in 1954
transferred to Chingford County High School. At Bancroft's he taught
geology to senior pupils for Inter. B.Sc., and he was responsible for intro-
ducing the subject of geology to the curriculum of both schools. He gave
evening lectures and post-graduate lectures at St. Marylebone Literary
Institute and at Chingford and elsewhere. He was Chairman of Chingford
Antiquarian Society and Principal Scientific Officer of Chingford Civil Defence
Corps.
He was elected to the Council of The Essex Field Club in 1956 and this
Club is only one of the many bodies which mourn the man who was to be
taken in the heyday of such a distinguished career.