St John’s High School teacher Francis Anthony Devlin

Francis (Frank) Anthony Devlin, a former principal guidance teacher at St John’s High School, has died aged 79.

Born in Dundee, he was educated at St Patrick’s Primary School and Lawside Academy before beginning an apprenticeship as an engineering pattern maker in the Wallace Foundry.

Mr Devlin began his national service in 1952 at RAF Hednesford and was posted to Hong Kong and the Philippines, before returning two years later to the Wallace Foundry and also Blackness Foundry.

After being made redundant he became a student in engineering studies at Dundee Technical College, entering teaching in 1958 as a technical teacher at St John’s.

He spent almost 35 years at the school, rising to house master and finally to principal teacher of guidance.

He met his future wife Rita Wilkie while they were both teenagers at the St Patrick’s Church dance and were married in 1955 at St Mary’s Lochee Church.

Mr Devlin was a prominent member of the Catholic community in Dundee.

He is survived by his wife, children Rob, Linda, Elaine and Susan, and seven grandchildren.