It was with great sadness that we learned that Mark Davidson, Head of PE, Chair of the South Ribble Sports Partnership, husband, father, son, brother and friend passed away on Tuesday 25th March this year.

Mark started as the Head of PE at Balshaw’s in May 2013.  Mark had a vision and a passion for PE and physical fitness that has impacted upon the lives of hundreds of Balshavians and many more students across South Ribble.

Mark came from a sporting family and his father, Norman Davidson was also a Head of PE for much of his career at Leyland St Mary’s Catholic High School.  Mark’s vision for PE was a completely inclusive one and he saw PE as being a place where everyone could find a way to succeed and become a better person through their “My PE Journey” which was much more about caring for your body and your mind through health and fitness than it was about winning.  Through healthy lifestyles, we could all be winners.

For example, there can be very few places where almost every member of the school waits at the end of the day to take part in a cross-country run for charity, but Mark’s vision for inclusive sporting activity as a whole school community made this happen.  Every October almost all of the school would turn out at the end of the day to take part in a cross-country race.  The sight of hundreds of children launching forward to run either competitively or for fun and camaraderie has always been a moving sight to see.

These events always looked easy and ran perfectly, but that was because Mr Davidson would plan every single aspect of how an event would work.  He introduced our Sports Presentation Evening when students would receive their sporting colours and a range of awards for their achievements in sport or as coaches.  Mark created a prestigious, packed-out event every time and students would arrive in suits and dresses for the occasion.  Mark’s organisation went way beyond a school awards evening with the production values that were like a media event.  (And it is always unusual to see a PE teacher in a suit, but, boy, did Mr Davidson cut a stylish figure in his three-piece suit!).

Sports Days are the epitome of what Mark sought to do every day with sport.  They were a celebration of participation and also elite sport.  Mark kept the tradition of sports days from years before, keeping an accurate history of the fastest times in each event, with records being broken every year.  Seeing the swaying masses of blue, yellow, green and red house colours cheering on their houses and getting points for participation as well as individual sporting success was a foundation for his belief that everyone can access sport and get a sense of personal achievement from it.

Mark loved sport himself and it didn’t matter what he tried his hand at, he was frustratingly brilliant at it from darts to table tennis, football to netball.  Yes – Mark was a huge fan of netball and started up a male netball league when he was at university.

Mark’s passion for his subject will live on upon the walls of the PE corridor where his vision for the PE curriculum can be seen.  Here you can also find his legacy of celebrating the achievements of our young people through his establishment of plaques of the wall celebrating the achievements of all who have successfully represented the school.  You can see it in the silverware in the school entrance too.

At the time of writing the school still holds the Lancashire Shield for the Lancashire Schools Cup established in 1929.  In the Spring of 2024 the team of boys that Mark coached, who thought the absolute world of him, brought the trophy, shown below, to Balshaw’s as winners – a fitting tribute to Mr Davidson who was a hero and a role model to them.

In the card from his winning team, one of his students wrote “You are the man that I hope to be.”  We all looked to Mark as an inspiration.  His life touched so many people across South Ribble.  Sports people are naturally competitive, but Mark brought together all schools in a spirit of co-operation and community.

Mark’s contribution to Balshaw’s has clearly been truly remarkable. His leadership, passion, and dedication has obviously not only brought great success to the PE department but also left a lasting impact on his students and colleagues. His legacy will continue to inspire as he lives on in the walls of the building and in the hearts of those he touched.

As we continue to  navigate our grief, we can hold close the words of Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit." May this verse bring comfort and remind everyone that we are not alone in their sorrow; God’s presence is especially near during times of heartbreak.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mark Davidson is to be held and details will be announced for those who wish to attend.