John Walmsley was born on 24th May 1839 in Bradford, Yorkshire. He graduated at London University and trained to be a Teacher in Bradford and at the Normal College, Cheltenham. His first appointment was Master of Mathematics at Dr. Bridgman's Army School, Woolwich. He came to Eccles in 1869 to take a similar position at Clarendon Road School, which was a preparatory school to the public schools. However in 1872 a number of Eccles residents prevailed on him to found a school to prepare boys for business life. Thus Eccles Grammar School was established in January 1873 on Wellington Road and John Walmsley was to be its Head Master for 48 years.

In 1892, he acquired Clarendon Road School and the Grammar School moved into these premises. John was a member of several mathematical and teaching associations and was the author of books on trigonometry, geometry, algebra and mechanics. He was interested in the public life of Eccles and became a member of the Eccles Local Board. He gave much attention to such issues of public health as sanitation, sewage disposal and smoke abatement. He was co-opted onto the Eccles Education Committee at its formation in 1903. He was also a church warden at Patricroft Parish Church. John Walmsley died on 9th July 1921 at his residence, Clarendon House, Eccles. He was 82 years old and left a widow Marian, five sons and four daughters. He was buried at Peel Green Cemetery on Tuesday 12th July, 1921. The service was conducted by Rev.H.N.Ross, Vicar of Eccles and Wing Commander the Rev.S.L.Clarke, MA BSc, an old boy of Eccles Grammar who came from Hulton, Bucks, especially for the occasion. [This obituary is on the Peel Green Cemetery website.]