The Berkeley Institute will observe tomorrow’s funeral for former principal Clifford Maxwell with a guard of honour at the service at St Theresa’s Cathedral.

The school will toll its bell at 10am, and continue to fly its flag at half-mast. The school choir will also perform at Dr Maxwell’s 11am funeral service and internment.

Dr Maxwell, a respected educator and the school’s fifth principal, died on November 1 at the age of 80.

The Berkeley Institute’s board of governors today hailed Dr Maxwell’s “untiring devotion” to the school he headed from 1971 until his retirement in 1990.

Along with his wife, Florenz, Dr Maxwell campaigned for social justice as a member of the Progressive Group, which the board commended for its “quiet but unyielding social disobedience”.

Added Berkeley Educational Society chairman Sinclair White: “The school will have a condolence book on display in the Berkeley Educational Society Historical Room on the main floor of the main building for Berkeleyites, old and new, faculty, staff, students, family and friends, to sign. The condolence book will then be presented to Dr Maxwell’s family as a keepsake.”