A FORMER deputy head boy of Falmouth Grammar School who played rugby for Falmouth and Penryn has been remembered after passing away from a short illness.

John Bartlett, 72, son of Fred and Bess from Falmouth, died at the St Christopher’s Hospice, Penge, south east London on June 10.

A former Falmouth Grammar School deputy head boy, John graduated with honours from University College London in 1970.

After a brief flirtation with the commercial world via Esso Oil, John decided a career in education would be more fulfilling and gained his Post Graduate Certificate of Education at Garnett College, Roehampton.

In 1973 he took up a teaching post at Orpington College of Further Education.

During his career John lectured Geography and Economics.

He also held a position in marketing within the college, but teaching was his passion and his students held him in such high regard that many sought him out for additional lessons – particularly as exams loomed.

His excellent teaching was recognised and rewarded by the Pearson Teaching Awards in 2012, when he was named as one of the leading Further Education A Level teachers in the south east.

John lived most of his life in Beckenham, Kent, but such was his love for Cornwall he took the opportunity to return home for holidays as often as possible.

Indeed, it was his unfulfilled dream to return to Cornwall one day and walk the Cornish Coastal Path and enjoy the local hospitality along the way.

As a young man growing up in Falmouth, John was a keen and talented rugby player.

He was selected to represent Cornwall Schools and played at senior level for both Falmouth and Penryn rugby clubs.

His promising career was sadly cut short by an ankle injury, but his love for the game continued and he particularly enjoyed the experience of watching Cornwall live at the home of English rugby, Twickenham, and joining in the singing of traditional Cornish songs with the thousands of who attended.

One of his family’s proudest moments was when John, accompanied by his proud mother and father, received the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award from Prince Philip at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party.

John's surviving brothers are Keith, Peter, Roger, Trevor and Nigel.

A small private funeral will be held on July 8 in London.

The family would welcome donations in memory of John to be sent to Macmillan Cancer Support at macmillan.org.uk and Cornwall Air Ambulance via cornwallairambulancetrust.org