Eurof Lloyd Osmend - an inspirational Birmingham teacher

Mr Osmend was born in a mining community in South Wales and as a young boy he had polio which left him with a lifelong mobility impairment. Unable to go into the mines he studied to be a teacher. At the start of the 2nd world war in 1939 he tried to join the army but was refused because of his disability. Instead he joined the staff of a Birmingham grammar school which had been evacuated to Wales. In spite of his impairment Mr Osmend became an inspirational teacher and as well as his academic subjects he also took a very hands-on approach to teaching PE, including gymnastics and trampoline, and ran the school rugby department which produced a number of professional and international players. Mr Osmend died in 2013 and this is an online tribute which includes part of our interview with him.