AN English teacher who inspired thousands of pupils over three decades at a York secondary school has died, aged 78.

Ray Beecroft was head of English at Fulford School from the time the school opened in 1963 to his retirement in 1993, and taught generations of youngsters.

Born in Hull, Ray started his teaching career in East Yorkshire before joining Fulford School, where he not only taught English but wrote and directed the school plays.

He co-wrote four English course books that were used in schools in the 1980s called Perspectives in English with his friend and colleague, Graham Sanderson.

Mr Sanderson, of Scarcroft Road, said: “Ray was an inspirational teacher and was very good at introducing children and young people to literature. He was also good at helping them improve their work. He was a very committed teacher and built around him in his time at Fulford a really strong and creative department.”

Mr Sanderson said Ray’s late sister, Pauline, was a head teacher at an infant school in Beverley and suffered from Multiple Sclerosis (MS), so in his later life Ray dedicated much time to designing disabled facilities to help people suffering from the illness.

He said: “As a young man Ray had polio, just at the end of doing his national service in the army, which left him with a weakened right arm and left leg, but he coped very well and a lot of people who knew him had no idea. But in his latter years he struggled with his mobility.”

Ray lived in the Heslington Road area of York and in his spare time loved going to the theatre and took an active interest in the city’s landscape and architecture.

A funeral service will take place at 1.40pm at York Crematorium tomorrow with donations going to the MS Society.