ERIC Twigg’s enthusiasm for education was an inspiration to those under his tutelage.

Mr Twigg spent 27 years in teacher training in the town, ending his career as dean of Huddersfield University’s school of education.

The son of a miner, he was born in Ryhill, near Wakefield, in 1931, and spent his formative years in the area.

After graduating from Manchester University in modern history, politics and economics, he went to the Institute of Education in London, where he gained a postgraduate teaching certificate.

On the first day of seminars he met his future wife, Eileen.

His first teaching posts were at Kinsley Secondary School and Hemsworth Grammar School, both in the Wakefield area, followed by Wakefield Technical College.

After moving to Fenay Crescent in Almondbury with Eileen and their three children, Peter, Christine and Helen, Mr Twigg started at the Huddersfield College of Education, on the Holly Bank campus, in 1969.

He was head of department when the college became the school of education at Huddersfield Polytechnic in 1974, and was made dean of the school in 1989.

He continued to hold that position after the polytechnic gained university status in 1992, until he retired four years later.

During his career, Mr Twigg’s expertise saw him travel the world in an advisory or teaching capacity – to Australia to help with the reorganisation of the system of technical training and at summer schools in Nigeria and Malawi.

He also spent time in Hong Kong, Bali, Bangkok, Turkey, Russia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the United States.

Colleague, Prof Cedric Cullingford, said: “He had a huge amount of experience all over the world. He conveyed a concern for education and an interest in people that was very inspiring.”

Outside of work, Mr Twigg was a popular member of the Probus Club, of which he was secretary for several years, and the civic and archaeological societies.

Mr Twigg died from respiratory failure as a result of lung cancer on July 22, aged 78.

Hundreds of people attended Mr Twigg’s funeral at All Hallows Church in Almondbury on July 29.

As well as his wife and three children, Mr Twigg leaves six grandchildren.