Richard Bunbury Stories
Here are stories and tributes to Richard. The videos were shot at our home in about 2006, and many of the comments that follow are from his celebration of life. They came about when Elaine, Richard’s mother thought he and I would have a lot in common, and that I would enjoy his stories. It never was a right idea to ignore an Elaine suggestion.
Here are four stories Richard shared
- His father’s stories in the war
- Camaraderie at a private school
- From teaching to law
- Law school
Once you’ve started the video , to choose from the playlist, click on the the lines at the top of the viewer.
”November: when the nights are longer than the days, and there’s more evil in the world than good; for it is after Hallowe’en and not yet Christmas.” — Mr. Bunbury, my amazing grade 4 teacher.
I always think about him in November because that’s when he’d bust out the scary stories, which would always contain the above phrase.
Mr Bunbury… I cannot begin to put into words the impact he had on me as a student at YHS. I think back to his stories about the yellow banana spiders and the way he allowed us as a class to take some small ownership in how things were to be run. I fondly remember him asking what word he could use to grab our attention when we were getting a tad too loud and we picked Garfield (of all things) and so if you ever walked past our class you’d be sure to hear him saying “1….2…3… Garfield” and then we would be quiet. I perhaps remember most how he made me feel and how he valued what we each had to say. I also remember his tact in solving our class conflicts which can’t be easy with 18 girls to deal with. The most fitting tribute I can put forth to such a great man is that I in turn became an elementary teacher and hope to provide my students with some measure of what he was able to give me. We were all truly blessed to have been educated by such a wonderful man.
I just learned about this and it saddens me. He was one of those teachers that is a life changer and I will never forget him. As one of the few boys that went through YHS (which was a tricky time) He helped keep us sane and also was the one who eventually recommended which school I should go to after – and he was BANG on. Speaking of ‘bangs’ I will relate one story about his class I’ll never forget – now when I was in Grade 4 and in his class but the years after in grade 5 and 6. In YHS the Gr 4 classroom was at the end of a long hall. My friend and I had this crazy ritual worked out where each day, at lunch, we woudl run down the hall, slide into his class on our leather soles, Pop our lunch-bags and run for it. He made a show of clambering after us but it was really just harmless fun for all of us. I went back there years later to referee a basketball game and had the opportunity to thanks him for being who he was. Now seeing these videos I learn even more. My comments here salute a life well lived and as one of the many touched by him I feel honored to have had the opportunity.Starting about half way through Grade 4 and onward neither he nor I called each other by our proper name, but rather, for some unknown reason instigated by him, reversed our names so that I became known as “Ttocs” and he “Yrubnub”
Hi Scott, and everyone else.
I just found this page after Googling “Richard Bunbury teacher” and am so incredibly sad to hear he’s no longer with us.
That video is amazing. I remember some of those stories even though I haven’t heard them in 27 years (he taught my grade 4 class in 1987).
Richard, or Mr. Bunbury, was my Grade 4 teacher at York House in 1984. He is my favourite teacher of all time and was the inspiration for me to become a teacher myself. I had recently searched his name on the internet in the hopes to reconnect with him, and in doing so am so very saddened to learn of his passing. With this message I hope to memorialize the passionate, kind, creative, and dedicated teacher he was.
I remember fondly the dramatic stories Mr. Bunbury used to tell while wheeling around the classroom in his chair. He instilled the love of writing within me and the courage to express myself. At this time Cabbage Patch Kids were the latest craze, and much to the students’ delight Mr. Bunbury dedicated an entire shelf in the classroom for the girls to leave their dolls! His love for his students was evident, and I truly admired his good humour, his compassion and his expectations for excellence – without pushing too hard.
I am sorry that I didn’t have the chance to connect with Richard as a colleague, but will always remember him with the greatest fondness and respect.
Richard was the kindest, most intelligent most wonderful friend, mentor and colleague. He is really missed. i think of Anne so often.Two very beautiful souls who truly belonged together. I have an image of Richard smiling as he would come to class. What a brilliant angelic man. how lucky I was to have known him. I think all of us who knew him, know that he is in God’s arms now. Thats who Richard was in his life, a brilliant angel.