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Cecil 'Jake' Jacobs pictured with pupils in 1980

Cecil 'Jake' Jacobs, former Oxford headmaster and RAF pilot, has died aged 87.

Born in Headington, Oxford, where he lived until he passed away, he went to the primary school in Margaret Road, and then the secondary school in St Ebbe's.

On leaving school, Mr Jacobs - who preferred to be known as Jake - went to work at Critchley, Ward and Pigott as a trainee accountant, but the outbreak of the Second World War saw him enlist in the RAF.

A respected pilot, Mr Jacobs was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1942 after completing a bombing mission despite having a badly damaged aircraft.

After the war, Mr Jacobs took up the opportunity to go into emergency training as a teacher, due to a shortage in the profession.

Completing the training in one year - something that would normally take two - his first school was New Marston County Primary School, which operated at first in village halls.

After only eight years as a teacher, he gained his first headmastership at Cowley St James School, aged 36.

In 1959, he moved to Blackbird Leys Junior School, later known as Shepherds Hill.

Mr Jacobs worked hard to build up the reputation of the school and became a staunch defender of the area's reputation.

Speaking to the Oxford Mail at the time of his retirement in 1980, he said: "What people don't realise about Blackbird Leys is that we have as many people living here as in Thame or Henley, and I expect there are a few bad 'uns in Thame and Henley."

Former colleague David Mundy said: "There are many men and women in Oxford today that are thankful for the excellent start Jake gave them in life."

Mr Jacobs' daughter, Bobby, said: "Whenever dad would go into town he would always have former pupils coming up to him and saying 'do you remember me, Mr Jacobs?' "He was a kind man with a good sense of humour and was a fantastic husband to my mother and a great father, grandfather and great grandfather."

Following his retirement in 1980, Mr Jacobs enjoyed spending time at the various clubs he was a member of, including the Bomber Command Association.

He was also a volunteer at the League of Friends shops in Oxford's hospitals.

Mr Jacobs passed away peacefully at home on Friday February 1. He is survived by his wife Audrey, son Nigel, daughter Bobby, seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

3:28pm Wednesday 13th February 2008

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