His Excellency Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK has commended late Andrew Patrick Sherwood, a former English Master School for his devoted service to the school.
He said late Sherwood, a co-author of "English for Modern Africa" was much loved by succeeding generations of Achimotans many of whom he taught and mentored for the twenty years that he lived in Ghana.
Late Sherwood served Ghana in interesting times just before independence through the Nkrumah years, military coups and rule, restoration of democracy until 1975 when he retired from Achimota.
He said late Sherwood was a strict disciplinarian who ensured that students complied with the rules and norms of the school.
Said High Commissioner Osei: "Mr. Sherwood, was affectionately called “Terror” but was only a terror if you broke the school rules or made mistakes unbecoming of an Achimotan when speaking or writing English".
He said late Sherwood would be remembered for the support and encouragement he gave to many Achimotans which had enabled them ‘to go forth into the world as living waters to a thirsty land’.
NOTE TO EDITORS The following is the text of the tribute:
TRIBUTE TO ADRIAN PATRICK SHERWOOD BY H.E. ISAAC OSEI HIGH COMMISSIONER OF GHANA TO THE UK
The man, Adrian Sherwood, whose mortal remains lie before us today was much loved by succeeding generations of Achimotans, many of whom he taught and mentored for the twenty (20) years that he lived in Ghana.
Today, I am here both as his student in class and in Cadbury House where he was Housemaster for many years to pay him deserved respects. I am also here as the official representative of the Government and people of Ghana to the U.K. to honour the memory of a man who in serving Achimota served Ghana well.
He served Ghana in interesting times just before independence through the Nkrumah years, military coups and rule restoration of democracy dictatorship until 1975 when he retired from Achimota.
He was affectionately called ‘Terror’ but was only a terror if you broke the school rules or made mistakes unbecoming of an Achimotan when speaking English. Then his with sometimes caustic came into play. Terror taught English by encouraging his students to learn from their mistakes. Mr. Sherwood taught us that English was not a language with rules to learn by rote, but it was a language you learnt by speaking and listening. For many Akoras English opened up a whole new world, a subject to be studied and enjoyed.
His classic English textbook “English for Modern Africa” which was published in four volumes and which he wrote with Muriel Bentley, another Akora remains the standard on how to get students to speak and write good English.
Adrian Sherwood will be remembered for the support and encouragement he gave to many of us so that we would ‘go forth into the world as living waters to a thirsty land’.
His love for gardening instilled in us the need to keep our surroundings clean and beautiful.
So Akora Adrian Sherwood goes to his Maker. May he join Fraser, Aggrey and Guggisberg and the faithful departed Akoras in eternal rest.
