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Coventry University remembers former Director and headteacher of city school
Geoffrey Holroyde
University news
Friday 12 December 2025
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Tributes have been paid to a former Director of Lanchester Polytechnic – now Coventry University – who was a key figure within local education.
Geoffrey Holroyde, who has died at the age of 97, led the institution in the 1970s and 1980s, having also been the first Headteacher at Sidney Stringer Community College.
During this time, Sidney Stringer Community College operated as a school during normal hours but also opened to the whole community for sport, adult education and leisure activities every day of the week. It was the first city school of its type in England.
All this came during a time of massive reorganisation for education in Coventry, as the school leaving age was raised to 16. Following his work at Sidney Stringer, he was asked by Coventry City Council in 1975 to take on his new role at Lanchester Polytechnic.
Later in his career he was appointed Director of GEC Marconi Management College.
Away from education, Geoffrey held a keen interest in music, becoming a chorister in his youth and learning the organ, playing for church services at the age of only 12.
His lifelong love of music saw him establish a choir for young people at Coventry Cathedral and even in his 90s travelling to Gosport to play Holy Trinity Church’s restored organ.
Geoffrey’s daughter, Jacky Sellers, shared her thoughts about her father's time at Lanchester Polytechnic.
Geoffrey was known for turning up to social events at the Students' Union and also eating with the staff at Priory Hall. Indeed early on, someone serving lunch asked him to ’hurry up as the new boss was coming in’ and he didn't tell her that he was the new boss.
He was determined to make education a more inclusive experience and to break social barriers.
He wanted people to be accountable and to own their roles and although this did not make for an easy ride with the unions or staff, he pushed for change. He wanted to leave the institution a better place than when he started and he was never 100% sure that he had, but his sincerity and endeavour in trying cannot be faulted.
Jacky Sellers
Geoffrey was a key figure during a very progressive moment for education in the city. Coventry University is the thriving centre for learning it is today thanks to the efforts of people like Geoffrey who played a huge part in our history.
Professor John Latham CBE, Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University
