TRIBUTES have poured in for former Tavistock College teacher and town councillor Ashley Tossell, who died suddenly on Saturday aged 59.

Mr Tossell, who spent his entire teaching career at the college working in the school’s PE department for more than 30 years, was described by his family this week as the ‘life and soul of the party’ and ‘a huge part of the community’.

He collapsed on Saturday at Derriford Hospital while taking his mother to an appointment. Doctors worked for 45 minutes to try and resuscitate him but to no avail. According to his family, Mr Tossell seemed in good health and they were shocked by his sudden death.

His parents Judith and Roy Tossell said: ‘We will never get over the loss of our lovely son who was always there for us when we needed him. He will be sorely missed. The only thing that will keep us going is our lovely grandchildren’.

Carolyn Tossell, mother to Ashley’s two children Natalie and Barney, said: ‘Ashley was a very loving and devoted father – he loved his family and would do anything for his children. He also was a dedicated and caring son. He coached Barney’s football team and tried never to miss a match; he also encouraged Natalie in her interests in travelling. He was a very proud father.

‘Ashley loved teaching and being with people – he was a very gregarious person, always joking and having a laugh.

‘So many people in Tavistock knew Ashley, having taught several generations and being a member of a number of local sports and social clubs. Everywhere he went there was someone who knew him or who had been taught by him or played in a team alongside him.’

Since Mr Tossell’s death hundreds of people have taken to social media to pay tribute to him. A Facebook page was immediately set up and has attracted more than 3,600 followers and hundreds of people have shared their memories of the former teacher.

Natalie and Barney have been overwhelmed by the number of tributes on the memorial page: ‘We are honoured that so many people have spoken out to remember our Dad and pay tribute to him. It’s made this horrible time a bit more bearable.

‘We have read on Facebook how good a PE teacher he was, how thoughtful he was, and how well respected and well liked. He was a huge part of the community and really enjoyed living here. It’s where we have grown up and has always been our home. Tavistock is also where Dad wants to be buried.’

Mr Tossell initially started life at the college as a supply teacher in 1978 before joining the school full-time. He climbed the ranks to become head of the PE department before his retirement from the college around seven years ago. Still wanting to be part of the school where his children were students, Mr Tossell then served as a school governor.

Born in Redruth, Mr Tossell lived with his parents in St Ives and attended Humphrey Davy Grammar School in Penzance. As a youth he played rugby and football for Cornwall and also was South West County sprint champion, running against Olympic gold medallist and Steve Ovett in the All-England 400m final.

Mr Tossell did his teacher training at Marjon in the year the college transferred from London to Plymouth. Since his retirement he has remained involved in the sporting community, coaching his son Barney’s football team and playing golf.

The PE department of Tavistock College said this week: ‘The Physical Education faculty at Tavistock College had the pleasure and honour of knowing Ashley both professionally and personally.

‘He laid the foundations of all that we do and we strive to follow in his footsteps to inspire and enrich the lives of all students at Tavistock College.’

In a statement put out on its website and social media, Tavistock College said Mr Tossell was an inspiring teacher at the college and would be missed by generations of students and colleagues.

A memorial book is available to sign up until tomorrow (Friday) and is held in the school’s reception.

For many years Mr Tossell had close ties to the town’s rugby and football clubs including being a key holder and chairman of the football club and player for Tavistock Rugby Club’s veterans’ team.

Bob Boreham, chairman for Tavistock Rugby Club, said Mr Tossell had left the entire club with a lot of fond memories.

He said: ‘I first met Ashley Tossell 30 years ago when I was putting together a vets’ team at Tavistock Rugby Club. In what turned out to be his normal way he entered the club house to a stream of cheers and banter from the other team members who knew him far better than me.

‘His enthusiasm and jokey character carried forward onto the pitch where often our backs would be laughing at some comment Ashley had made. Vets rugby was and still is played for fun. Ashley put the “F” in fun as well as a few other things.’

A former fellow town councillor Ted Sherrell said: ‘In all that he did, Ashley brought enthusiasm, profession-alism, integrity, individuality and charisma. Truly “his own man”, our community has suffered a grievous loss.’

Ashley’s family have yet to choose a date for his funeral but think it will take place during the October half-term so that as many of Ashley’s friends and former colleagues can attend.