DON McLeod, managing director of Thanet-based Scitech Educational and a stalwart of the open learning industry for more than 20 years, has died suddenly aged 53.

His organisation, Scitech Educational, based in Kent Innovation Centre, Thanet Reach Business Park, Broadstairs, is one of the last remaining from the Open TEC days.

It started as a Kent County Council curriculum development project based in the science department of Canterbury College.

In recent years, Mr McLeod played a key role in training nurse practitioners in the use of electronic medical devices.

Scitech Educational has also become one of the major suppliers of on-line learning programmes to the University for Industry for use in LearnDirect.

Mr McLeod, who lived in Ashford but spent a large part of his life in Minster-in-Thanet, was a keen supporter of the work of the sisters of Minster Abbey, of St Mary's Church, and its choir. He was also a member of Kent Gliding Club in Ashford.

Company spokeswoman Maria Thompson said: "Don was an extremely principled and driven man and his passing will leave a huge void for all who had the honour to know him."