Tim Browning (9th July 1952 – 9th November 2025)

Tim Browning (9th July 1952 – 9th November 2025)

Tim passed away last Sunday aged 73, after a period of illness with cancer. He joined the staff of Wolverhampton Grammar School in April 1979 as a teacher of Games and Geography and taught there for over 35 years, fully retiring in the summer of 2014. Tim was a key member of both departments throughout this time, coaching countless teams in football and cricket, regularly arranging and accompanying the annual ski trip and taking geography field trips to many parts of the UK and even to Mallorca. He also accompanied the memorable Sports tour to South Africa in 2002. He was House Master of Barnes House from 1989 to 1994. Later in his career, he became a dedicated and caring Deputy Head of Sixth Form.

Tim was instrumental in developing sport at WGS: from athletics to football, volleyball to basketball and cricket too.  For many years, Tim was Head of Cricket and joint first XI Football Coach; during which time WGS won the National 6-a-side football tournament twice. And it was not just in curriculum sport; Tim helped plot the route for the inaugural Coast-2-Coast running challenge back in 1999, from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay, and shared the driving on many subsequent years’ events.  This challenge still takes place annually, some 26 years later.  

As a keen sportsman himself, Tim played cricket and football for the Old Wulfrunians Club and was as a key member of the staff cricket team’s annual match verses the first XI team.  Golf was also a passion; playing in the annual staff golf match against the school governors and more recently the annual WGS golf festival alongside former students.  Tim continued to play golf in his retirement.

Tim leaves behind his wife Carolyn, son Richard and daughter Anna along with their respective families.

Tim was a cherished member of the WGS community for over 35 years. His long tenure made him one of the school’s most dedicated and longest-serving staff members. Tim was the epitome of professionalism and commitment, and gave so much to our community over the decades.
A passionate sportsman, Tim had an incredible ability to turn his hand to any sport. One of his proudest achievements was fielding for the England cricket team, at Headingly, as a substitute in 1980.  As a Yorkshire man from Leeds, a story he shared with great pride.

On a personal note, Tim was my form tutor when I joined WGS as a student in 1983. He taught us Geography and led our memorable field trip to Woodside Farm. Later, in Sixth Form, I had the privilege of working closely with him as House Captain. Years later, I was fortunate to work alongside him as a colleague. 
Tim continued to be a familiar and much-loved presence at our OW Sports Festivals even after his retirement. His legacy at WGS is profound, and I say without hesitation that he was a true legend of the school.

Mr Anderson, WGS HEAD