Harmer Parr 

Harmer Parr, (U68) – 13 March 1949–22 July 2024
By Helen Parr

Harmer grew up in Oulton Broad and attended Lowestoft Grammar School after passing the 11 plus. A French exchange trip in 1966 changed his life, as it was here that he developed a love of France, confirming his passion for modern languages as well as Latin and Greek. It was also here that he met his future wife, a fellow pupil from the Grammar School. He studied modern languages at Churchill 1968–71.

His first teaching job was at Bristol Grammar School, but he left to work in the comprehensive system, teaching at Somervale School outside Bath. He rapidly moved through the ranks of teaching, moving from Somerset to Thurston High School and then to Hadleigh High and Sudbury Upper Schools, all in Suffolk. In 1987, he took a job as language adviser in Sunderland, where he worked with colleagues to develop language learning and school exchanges in the Northeast. Later, he worked with failing schools in Great Yarmouth and from there he joined Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Schools in 2002.

Harmer was a keen sportsman, who played football for the Cambridge University Falcons club and Saturday league teams, and later enjoyed marathon running and triathlons. His outlook on life, and his belief in the importance of education, was shaped by the death of his youngest brother, David Parr, in the Falklands war in 1982, age 19.

Harmer was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2017, but the cancer only became untreatable following emergency heart surgery in 2023. One year later, Harmer died peacefully at home with his wife and daughters by his side. He remained stoic and cheerful until the end. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Vivien, his daughters, Professor Helen Parr and Marian Scognamiglio, and five grandchildren. He will be much missed by his family and friends.