Pioneering head teacher dies, aged 79

The first headteacher of a West Midlands comprehensive, who later led pupils and teachers at a Staffordshire school, has died aged 79.

Richard Ashman set up Edgecliff High School at Kinver in 1970 and remained there as head until 1983, when he left to take over at Alleynes School in Stone, Staffordshire.

He remained at Alleynes School until he retired in 1993.

Mr Ashman, who settled in Christian Malford, Wiltshire, after his retirement, died on February 15 after a week in intensive care at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, following surgery for a ruptured bowel.

He had earlier appeared to be winning a battle against prostate cancer, said his daughter, Mrs Annie Bevins, who attended Edgecliff High along with her brother Peter while their father was head there.

Before Mr Ashman took over at Edgecliff the building was Kinver Secondary Modern School, which opened in 1951.

Mike Frost, aged 65, who taught English and French under Mr Ashman during he 1970s at Edgecliff, said: "He was originally my teacher and then I went on to work with him.

"He was a tremendous man with vision who put the pupils first but also looked after his staff.

Mrs Bevins, who also lives in Wiltshire, described her father as "exceedingly energetic and enthusiastic about whatever he did".

He had been a keen cricket player and was renowned" for his tenor singing voice. He had been a church lay reader for 40 years, including a spell at St Peter's, Kinver.

Mr Ashman, who lived in White Hill, Kinver, while working at Edgecliff High, leaves his wife, Mair, and four grandchildren.

The funeral will take place at Christian Malford Church tomorrow and the family is requesting that any donations instead of flowers should go to Epilepsy Action.