A school has paid tribute to a teacher who died in a sailing accident.

Peter Pratt, of Mile End Road, Colchester, died in hospital last month, a day after collapsing at Ardleigh Reservoir.

The 68-year-old was named by police on Friday.

Steven Davidson, headteacher at Thomas, Lord Audley School, said today his former colleague would be sadly missed by staff and pupils.

He said: "Peter had a passion for teaching and wanted to make a contribution to the lives of the children he taught. He believed that teaching was important and that young people were entitled to a good education.

"We will miss his deep, gravelly voice that told of his Suffolk origin as soon as he spoke to you. We will miss his broad smile that stretched from one eccentric ear to the other."

Published Monday, November 15, 2004

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