His friend and colleague is getting ready to take on a huge challenge in his memory
Paul Moseley died in May 2025(Image: Merchants’ Academy)
One year after a popular maths teacher at Merchants’ Academy Secondary School in Withywood died by suicide, a former colleague is preparing to take on a tough challenge in his memory.
Paul Moseley, a kind-hearted man with a tremendous sense of humour, was just 49 when he took his own life in May 2025. He died the same month his beloved Crystal Palace won the first trophy in the club’s history as they beat Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup Final.
Now, Joe Cole, a PE teacher at Merchants, is going through the final stages of training before cycling from Bristol to Selhurst Park—Crystal Palace’s home ground—in London.
“He was a fantastic bloke, a great teacher, loved by staff and loved by students alike,” Joe said. “He got on really well with parents as well. Yeah, so it was a tragic, tragic loss to lose him last year.”
Paul is survived by his wife Simone and their two daughters. He joined Merchants in 2008, and maths with Mr Moseley became a favourite lesson for many pupils.
“What’s been really sort of moving from the charity page, there’s been a lot of current students who obviously have supported me and there’s been a lot of talk of it in school, which is great in terms of, like, remembering him, but also past students,” Joe said.
“I’ve been at the school now, this is my 13th year. So teachers and students from sort of like 10 years ago, and even even longer, have been getting in contact, writing nice comments, really lovely comments that I can then pass on to his wife and his family, that have brought them a lot of comfort, I would say, as well.”
Suicide in England and Wales is around three times more common among men than among women, according to the Office for National Statistics. Risk of suicide is usually highest among people aged between 45 and 54, like Paul.
As well as acting as a tribute to Paul, Joe’s cycle challenge is also raising money and awareness for Talk Club, a charity that started in Bristol in 2019 and now runs men’s mental health support groups all over the UK. Joe grew up with Blué O’Connor, one of the Talk Club’s co-founders.
“If as a result of the challenge they (Talk Club) can help just one extra person, then that would be amazing,” Joe said.
The initial fundraising goal was £2,008, in a nod to the year Paul started at Merchants’. That goal has already been smashed, with a new target of £3,025—or 55 times 55—in honour of Maths teacher Paul’s love of prime numbers.
By his own admission, Joe is not a natural cyclist. He has suffered a few bruises in his training, particularly to his ego when taking tumbles after failing to properly unclip his shoes from his bicycle pedals.
He said it had been tough getting himself ready for the challenge, and he was expecting the day itself to be even harder, particularly with his sadly deceased friend and colleague firmly in his mind.
Joe’s charity ride will take place on May 30.
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