During the 40 years he lived in Bradford on Avon, Mr Frederick Bennett played a large part in the town’s community life.

Mr Bennett, who was 80, died at Staverton House Care Home. He had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for the past few years.

Always known as Fred, he was born in 1933 in Peterborough, grew up there and began his teaching career before becoming head teacher at a primary school in Thrybergh, South Yorkshire.

He met his wife Margaret in the early 1950s and they married a few years later at Peterborough Cathedral, where he was a chorister.

In 1970 they moved to Springfield in Bradford on Avon, where Mr Bennett lived until four years ago. He was the headteacher of Southdown Junior School in Bath and then head of maths at Warleigh Manor in Bathford, before retiring at the age of 59.

The couple had four children, Christopher, Michael, Julia and Fiona. They had 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mr Bennett was a former chairman of Bradford on Avon Hospital League of Friends and was an active member of the choir and congregation at Christ Church.

He wrote the book Gordon Bennett’s Guide to Bath, which was a humorous and fascinating guidebook to the city which he loved.

His funeral will be held at Christ Church, Bradford on Avon, next Friday, November 22, at 2.15pm. Donations in his memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or Child Link.