In Remembrance of Leon Bernicoff (OKS1953)

It is with great sadness that King’s learned of the passing of alumnus, Leon Bernicoff OKS 1953 on Saturday, 23^rd of December 2017, at the age of 83.

Leon was raised in the Liverpool area, and attended King’s between 1944 – 1953. He enjoyed a long career as a teacher of History at Dingle Vale Secondary Modern, Gateacre Comprehensive, Yew Tree Comprehensive in Dovecot, Croxteth Comprehensive and Clubmoor Comprehensive.

He met his wife June in 1955 at teacher training college and they were married for 53 wonderful years. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, sons in law and grandchildren.

Leon and his wife were one of the first couples to join the reality TV show ‘Gogglebox’, when it originally launched in 2013. He endeared himself to viewers across the nation with his unique personality and sharp wit.

Leon last visited King’s in 2011 when he met his old school pal Peter Williams. Peter, had emigrated to America in the 1950’s, where he taught English at the University of Delaware, and is the author of ‘Whistling in the Soup’ – a collection of his childhood memories in Wales during World War 2. After a gap of over 50 years, the pair met up again at the Queen Hotel in Chester, with their respective partners, then came into School to have coffee with the Headmaster.

In a statement issued on behalf of his family, producers of Gogglebox, Channel 4 and Studio Lambert, paid tribute to Leon.

“To those of us that knew him personally, Leon was a man of unwavering principles who exerted a distinct paternal presence both on and off screen.”

Our thoughts are with the Bernicoff family at this time.