Touching tributes have been paid to a former primary school teacher who coached an Olympic swimmer and a Crystal Palace footballer.
Ralph Shelley, who taught at Howbridge Junior School in Howbridge Road, Witham for 26 years, died aged 87 last Wednesday from complications with a stroke.
During his teaching career, Mr Shelley, of Highfields Road, Witham, is estimated to have taught hundreds of Witham youngsters - including his own son Graham and daughter Rachel.
He was also a keen sportsman and coached sports teams at the school, including professional footballer Rudi Hedman, who played for Colchester United and Crystal Palace.
Mr Shelley, who taught at the school between 1967 and 1994 and became deputy headteacher, coached Olympic swimmer James Gibson, who became the world champion at 50 metres in 2003 and was awarded the MBE in the 2004 New Year’s honours.
Mr Shelley’s daughter Rachel said: “He was my teacher as well as my father and I followed in his footsteps and became a teacher too."
See this week's Witham Times for the full story.
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