A FORMER teacher who played a role in classroom life in Hillingdon for more than 30 years has died.

Patrick Edwards, who used to live in St Martin’s Cottages, Ruislip, was head of drama and taught English at Abbotsfield School, in Clifton Gardens. He began teaching there in the 1960s, retiring in the mid-1990s.

Before he was a teacher, Mr Edwards, who was born in Brentford in 1927 and grew up in Chiswick, served in the RAF where he trained in what later proved to be his calling.

During his tenure at Abbotsfied he was a popular teacher and wrote plays, including a musical, for school performances.

His former wife, Carol Daniel, with whom he remained friends up until he died, said: “I have had some lovely letters from old pupils who say he has really made a difference to their lives.

“He loved teaching.”

After retirement, Mr Edwards moved to Wales, where Ms Daniel also lived. He died aged 87 in Crosfield House, a nursing home in Powys, on July 27.

In later life he had suffered a stroke which affected his speech, and donations in his memory are being used to train a speech therapist in Romania through a charity that Ms Daniel set up and Mr Edwards heavily supported.

He leaves behind daughter Danielle, son Lance, and six grandchildren.

A mass will be held at the Church of St Francis of Assisi, Dark Lane, Rhayader, Wales, on Friday at 12.30pm, followed by cremation at Aberystwyth Crematorium.