Tributes paid to long-standing Belgrave school teacher

By gtoulson

LOVING tributes have been paid to a long-standing Tamworth teacher who died recently.

Derek Lawson taught at Belgrave High School for 15 years, and at the Dales Infant School – now called Three Peaks Primary School – for 18 years until his sudden death from cancer in May.

A special school assembly was held in his memory at Three Peaks last week.

Headteacher Wendy Lees paid tribute to her former colleague and spoke of his hard work and dedication to his profession.

"We will remember him with love," she said.

Mr Lawson's love of sports was highlighted by the presence of Paralympian Ricky Balshaw, who won a silver medal for dressage in the equestrian event the Games in Hong Kong last year.

The school and Mr Lawson's family have vowed to raise money to help athletes compete in the Paralympics in 2012.

His wife Jayne, and his two children Rachel (22) and Andy (26), also attended the assembly, where they presented a cheque to Ricky for £500.

Mrs Lawson said that supporting Paralympians is something her husband was always keen to do.

"He was very keen on encouraging children in sports and the British Paralympics," she said.

"He always said to the children 'you can do it', and he encouraged disadvantaged people to take part in sports.

"He was a tremendous sportsman himself, and competed at international level in the discus.

"He also played volleyball for Tamworth and was in the first 11 hockey team."