A physics teacher who was dismissed from his role at a prestigious school after making what was described as a 'homophobic joke' has been found dead. John Wright, 54, was discovered at an address in Marlborough, Wiltshire, on 3 November, with police treating his death as non-suspicious.
An inquest opened at Swindon and Wiltshire Coroner's Court on 7 November, with a full hearing to follow. Mr Wright had taught at Marlborough College, a private school charging up to £61,000 a year, for a decade before being sacked during the summer holidays for 'inappropriate conduct'.
The comment that led to his dismissal was made on an exchange trip to the school's sister college in Malaysia. According to reports, Mr Wright said: 'No gum, no gays' – a reference to the ban on chewing gum in Singapore and the criminalisation of homosexuality in Malaysia. The remark was made in front of pupils and staff, and an internal investigation led to his dismissal. An appeal against the decision was unsuccessful.
Marlborough College issued a statement offering condolences to Mr Wright's family, describing his death as 'very sad'. The school declined to comment further. A source described the teacher as 'cheeky and silly', adding that his comments were typical of his flippant nature.
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