RETIRED head teacher and lecturer, Dr Reginald Akhurst, of Brecon Chase, Minster, near Sheerness, has died at Sheppey Community Hospital. He was 86.

Dr Akhurst will best be remembered as head teacher at the former Queenborough Secondary School between 1959 to 1966. He also taught history, English and physical education at the boys secondary modern school at Sheerness for eight years.

Dr Akhurst was a Sheppey man who attended local schools, and was a pupil at Borden Grammar School before going on to Queen Mary's College, London where he was awarded a BA Honours history degree.

Dr Akhurst would have celebrated his 87th birthday on August 21 and was looking forward to his diamond wedding anniversary. He was essentially a family man whose interests centred around home, garden and a love of poetry. Many of his poems were published.

Dr Akhurst leaves a widow, Mary, sons Mark and Paul, daughter Catherine and five grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Julian, in September 2000.

The funeral will take place at Vinters Park Crematorium, Maidstone, on Thursday, August 15, at 3.30pm.