TRIBUTES have been paid to a former teacher described as "an amazing and caring man" who made a difference for so many students.

Ian Davies was a former PE teacher and chair of governors who it was said "lived for St Augustine's" and was a "real family man".

He started working at St Albans before they amalgamated with St Anselm's to become St Augustines in 1988, where he became head of PE.

He also taught French and Spanish and ran football, rugby, athletics teams. The rugby teams had great success including winning the national Schools Cup three times in the early 2000s with the side captained by future Saints Lee Gaskell.

Ian taught and coached future Saints players.

He later became a governor and then on retirement became chair of governors working closely with then head teacher Linda Mousdale to take the school from requires improvement to good.

Ian never had a day off during his whole career.

A sports lover, Ian ran town rugby teams for many years and worked with other players who became professionals and with now Saints chief executive Mike Rush and Gordon Pennington.

He also played cricket for many years at St Helens and St Helens Recs and became chair of Blackbrook going back to his love of rugby

While retirement saw him battle leukaemia, he showed bravery continuing to work for son-in-law Lee Marsh and LMT taxis.

Jenny Radforth, subject leader for PE at St Augustine's and former colleague of Ian's, said: "He touched so many students, never had a bad word to say about students and always saw the good in each and everyone of them.

"He was a huge support to staff, a great joke teller with a wicked sense of humour.

"He truly was an amazing and caring man, hard working and loyal, lived for St Augustines.

"Former students would love to get into his taxi and see their favourite teacher and he would remember all their names and faces.

"It has come as such a shock at St Augustine's, we are devastated for his family."