Laurence Coates (55-61) moved with his family to Pocklington in 1955, where he attended Pocklington School as a day boy. He relished the three afternoons devoted to sports at which he excelled.  He also developed an interest in Classics, and in 1961 won the Holbrook Exhibition in Classics and Hebrew to read Theology at Jesus College, Oxford. His family were devout Methodists, and he initially aspired to become a Methodist Minister.

In his first five terms at Oxford, he was the only student on his course, so lectures became tutorials. After four years he was awarded a first-class degree and the Pusey and Ellerton senior (university) prize in Hebrew.

In 1962/3, he met Elizabeth Symons, who was reading Maths at St Anne’s, in a joint Gilbert and Sullivan production. Walking and music were shared interests, and they married in 1966. In the meantime, Laurence had decided not to pursue an academic career or to enter the Methodist Ministry. He had been influenced by a university society he attended called Crime: a Challenge to us all, which prompted him to apply for Probation Officer training. By 1967, he was a qualified Probation Officer and took up a post in Tottenham. In 1970, he and Elizabeth moved to Sheffield, attracted partly by the excellent reputation of the local probation service and by the quality of life the city and the Peak District would offer. Sheffield was their family home for over 50 years. Their son, Peter, was born in 1971 and daughter, Helen, in 1974.

Laurence had a keen interest in gardening and the rear garden in Sheffield was extensive and provided beautiful views across the valley towards the moors beyond. Developing the garden with fruit trees and vegetable plots together with the view were excellent antidotes to work stresses.

Laurence took on increasing responsibilities in the development of services for ex-offenders in South Yorkshire, becoming in 1989 one of two Deputy Chief Probation Officers in the region. In the 1990s, there was increasing pressure to cut local budgets and reduce staffing levels, and Laurence was granted early retirement in 1997.

In retirement, Laurence’s voluntary activities were more focused on local deprivation. He took roles with Citizens Advice Bureau, the Sheffield Family Service Unit, and the South West Sheffield Primary Care Trust. He also took up singing again and joined Elizabeth in the Sheffield Bach Society, as well as singing in the Sheffield Oratorio Chorus. As local government cuts took hold, the couple played a major part in the survival of the local library run by volunteers.

Elizabeth developed Parkinson’s in her early 60s which progressed until her death in 2022. Laurence devoted himself to her care to the extent that she was able to remain at home until the last few weeks of her life. Shortly after her death, Laurence was himself diagnosed with a terminal illness, but with the loving support of Helen and Peter, was able to live at home until the last two weeks of his life. He died on 23 January 2024, aged 81.

(Helen Minor)