A FORMER headteacher of Fartown High School has died.

Mr John Lowe, who was head at the school between 1975 and 1985, died at the age of 82.

Mr Lowe was brought up in Outwood, Wakefield, and went to Rothwell Grammar School.

He studied English at Sheffield University, where he not only met his wife-to-be Beatrice but also developed a love of cricket.

His greatest moment was playing as wicket-keeper and catching out the great Freddie Trueman.

His national service saw him train in the RAF as a navigator and he served in the Isle of Man, Canada and the United States.

One of his great memories came in 1953 when he was in Las Vegas and was a Coronation Day party guest of Marlene Dietrich and Talulah Bankhead.

Mr Lowe took up teaching in Nottingham before returning to Yorkshire as deputy head at Ovenden Secondary School in Halifax.

He then worked as head at Liversedge Secondary School from 1968 to 1975 before taking over at Fartown.

He later enjoyed a stint as head of English and headmaster at the former St David’s School in Luck Lane, Marsh.

Mr Lowe and Beatrice married in 1954 and the couple had three children, David, Susan and Martin. He also leaves grandchildren Jonty and Jemma.

Mr Lowe loved cricket and tennis and played at both Rothwell Tennis Club and Liversedge Tennis Club.

He was a member of Heckmondwike Rotary Club, a past president of Huddersfield Rotary Club and a very proud past master of the Masonic Lodge of Harmony and Chapter of Perseverance.

In his later years he was a member of the Ex Heads of Kirklees Secondary Schools.