A FAMILY have paid loving tribute to former Burnley teacher, Ron Gray.

Mr Gray passed away on Friday, October 3 after a long battle with bladder cancer. He was aged 87.

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Born in Birmingham, he moved to East Lancashire with his wife, Marjory to pursue a career in teaching. He took up his first post at Burnley Wood School teaching design technology, metalwork and woodwork and later taught at Barden Road School.

Mr Gray’s family said he was a gifted teacher who was very creative and believed passionately in the benefits of being outdoors. They said he loved nature walks and was very knowledgeable about wildlife and scenery.

Mrs Gray said: “He loved the countryside and he used to take the students on a walk along the Pennine Way ever year.

“He’d make little trophies with them when they got back. He really loved being outdoors and he thought that it was very important that the children got the chance to do that.” The couple had daughters, Ruth and Jane, who both followed in his footsteps to become teachers.

As youngsters, the pair experienced adventurous camping trips across which they fondly remember.

Jane said: “He got a huge old ex-army tent and took us camping all across Europe. We went to Spain, Belgium, France, Andorra and lots of other places and he drove there in his little Morris Minor.

“It was a really special experience because people just weren’t doing that sort of thing in those days. It was the early 60s and it was very rare indeed.”

When Mr Gray retired in 1984, he bought a motorhome and he and Marjory travelled all over the UK in it. They also bought and renovated a cottage in Trawden, where they lived together.

Mrs Gray said: “We did it all ourselves and worked very hard on it. He was very good at that sort of thing and it was like a hobby for him.”

Daughter Jane said: “He was a great Dad and I realise now that you don’t know what you’ve got when you’ve got it.

“It’s only when it’s gone you realise just how special it is.

“But all that knowledge will never leave, it will live on in all of his students, including all of us.”