A MUCH loved and remembered Tavistock College teacher has died at the age of 96.

Ewart ‘Hoppy’ Hopkins was head of Glanville house at Tavistock College and had worked at the school for 35 years when he retired in 1983.

Hoppy’s death was announced to local residents on Facebook earlier this month — and people were quick to express their sympathies and happy memories of when Hoppy was their teacher.

One person wrote: ‘It is with great sadness that Mr Hopkins passed away. He was 96 years old. He was also one of the last of the ‘few’ — a World War Two bomber pilot. A fantastic gentleman.’

Hoppy was also described as ‘a wonderful gentleman and a diamond among men. He was always willing to listen and help in what ever way he could — he had a heart of gold’.

A funeral service is to be held on March 1 and all are invited to attend.

Gillian Short, Hoppy’s daughter, said that he was a great man and loved Tavistock: ‘The last ten years Hoppy lived in Saltash to be nearer to me and my brother Stewart, who lives in Plymouth. His heart was always in Tavistock and his ashes will be scattered in Tavistock Cemetery with his wife Moyra.

‘All the boys and girls from the college are invited to the funeral at Burraton Methodist Church in Saltash on March 1. There will be a special service at St Eustachius’ Church in Tavistock on a date to be confirmed.’

When Hoppy retired in 1983, he was the longest serving teacher.

He had come to the town in 1947 as a young man out of the RAF where he served as a pilot during World War Two. After his time in the war, he wanted a quiet and beautiful place to live and work and never regretted the decision to take the job of teaching geography and PE. In 1961 he was appointed as housemaster at Tavistock School, two years after the secondary modern school in Dolvin Road had amalgamated with the grammar school to become a comprehensive.

Hoppy said at the time of his retirement that he knew the name of each of the 500 pupils in his house and of his tutor groups.

He loved football and organised the school teams as well as running cricket teams in the summer.

Outside of his school life, he was instrumental in extending the local education centre.

After his retirement, Hoppy played golf with his former colleagues, enjoyed time in his garden with his wife Moyra and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was a member of Tavistock Golf Club and loved watching every single sport on his television.

When he was 86 he moved to Saltash to be nearer his family.

He died suddenly two weeks after he suffered a serious stroke at 96.

Gillian added: ‘He lived a very good life — he used to say how very lucky he was.

‘He was a great man.’

Hoppy’s son Stewart Hopkins said: ‘Ewart maintained an active life, both physically and mentally until his death.

‘He was a wonderful grandfather and great grandfather and took a lively interest in all of the family’s activities and travels.

‘Although living in Saltash, he maintained a real interest in Tavistock, keeping in touch with friends, colleagues and pupils. His close friend, the late Stuart Munday, kept him informed of the cricket and sport of the town and of individuals within the area.’