TO generations of youngsters Eric Leslie Samuel was a strict headteacher who brooked no nonsense and at times could be fearsome.
To his family he was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather who will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Eric died at the Pasque Hospice, Luton, on September 26, after a long and brave battle with cancer. He was 87.

His wife Joyce and children, Judith, Steven and Robert were at his bedside.

"He was peaceful and comfortable," said Joyce.
"One of the last things he said was 'I've had a lovely life and lovely family. Keep looking after one another'."

Eric was one of three brothers born in Wing Road, Linslade.
His dad, Ernest, was headmaster at the nearby boys' school in Leopold Road where Eric was a pupil.

He went on to the Cedars Grammar School and began his working life as a clerk at the General Post Office in Church Square.
In 1938, with the clouds of World War Two looming over Europe, Eric and his older brother Noel joined the Territorial Army and served with the Beds Yeomanry.

It wasn't long before they found themselves on a troopship bound for Singapore. Two days after they landed, the allied forces on the island surrendered to the Japanese.

The brothers were separated and Eric was sent to work on the infamous Burma-Thailand Railway.

They were liberated and reunited by American forces following Japan's surrender and returned to "a hero's welcome" at the town's railway station.

Eric married Joyce at St Barnabas' Church, Linslade, in 1946. A year later he began teaching at the then Beaudesert Boys' School and went on to become headmaster before the amalgamation with Mary Bassett Girls' School at the new Brooklands Secondary School where he was deputy head.
In 1968, he took the job of head at Gilbert Inglefield Middle School and stayed there until retiring in 1981.

Despite his academic career, Eric was an outdoorsman at heart and was never happier than when enjoying the countryside with his family or indulging his passion for country sports.

He was also an enthusiastic gardener and artist and used his maths and technical drawing skills to design the family home in Peddars Lane, Stanbridge, Eric also enjoyed watching motor racing at Silverstone and his sons recalled how he would creep through the woods and sneak in through a hole in the fence to avoid paying.

He was actively involved in the life of the village and served as chairman of the parish council and the parochial church council.
Joyce said many of the cards and messages of condolence described Eric as "a real gentleman."

"Which he was of course, but I will remember him most as an outdoor, rugged, sort of man," she said.
"He was really self-disciplined and never complained, even when he was really ill.

"He was always there for us and looked after us. A wonderful husband and father and I will just so miss him being here."

The family extend their grateful thanks to the staff at the Pasque Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Support and Marie Curie nurses for their skill and dedication.

"He couldn't have had better care," said Joyce.
In his 34-year career, Eric "Sammy" Samuel made a lasting impression on thousands of schoolkids and many an unruly lad will have memories of being taught that sparing the rod would spoil the child – not in his lessons it didn't.

The funeral service will be at St John The Baptist Church, Stanbridge, on a date to be arranged.