HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to the founding principal of Barrow Sixth Form College.

Former Barrow principal John Edwards died peacefully at his home in Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, surrounded by his family on Wednesday July 21.

The 80-year-old, who was a key figure behind the college's fruition in the late-1970s, leaves behind his wife of 57 years Gaynor, their two children Trilby and Tracey, who are both also in teaching, and his four grandchildren Laura, Lucca, Edward and Leon.

Mr Edwards was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, in 1941 – to Norman Edwards and Molly McCormack. At school he excelled academically and was a great sportsman but it was Rugby and physics that became his life-long passions.

He studied physics at Imperial College London and gained his PGCE at Churchill College Cambridge.

His first teaching post was in Isleworth London, followed by a teaching post at Worthing High School in Sussex.

Physics teacher and principal Peter McCormack paid tribute to his former teacher Mr Edwards: “I hope we are all lucky enough to have had that one person in our lives who changes our lives, as John Edwards changed mine.

"For me Mr Edwards walked on water both inside the classroom – by the end of junior year I had already decided I wanted to be him."

Mr Edwards then was head of Physics and later deputy head at Mexborough Grammar School, Yorkshire and from there went to Barrow.

Mr Edwards was principal of Barrow Sixth Form College in Rating Lane from 1979 to 1986 and was a key figure in the planning and building of the college.

In an archive article from The Mail, Mr Edwards said the aim of the college was to 'establish a college to cater for a wide ability of youngsters, to provide high standards and ensure academic success'.

In its early years, the college was already gaining national attention - landing top awards in sport, drama and music - and exceeding the national average A-Level pass rate.

After Barrow, he opened another very successful Sixth Form College in Colchester Essex.

Mr Edwards' family remember him as a 'loving and supportive' husband and father who will be sadly missed.

They said: "Dad would be embarrassed at the level of praise he has received – he was modest to a fault. Whilst he was very committed to his career in education, he was also a great family man with a wonderful sense of fun – spending endless time playing with both his children and grandchildren, supporting them all in every way. He was also an epic storyteller.

"He was a loving and supportive husband to Gaynor – they had 57 happy years of marriage – a charmed life.

"In everything the family have received from friends and colleagues since dad's passing, the common thread is what a selfless, gentleman he was. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

"We have received so many lovely cards and letters from ex colleagues and students - it is so heart-warming to hear how much he meant to them."

A service to celebrate John's life will take place on Tuesday August 10 at 2.30pm at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth.