TRIBUTES to former Highworth headteacher Peter Croome from former pupils and members of his staff are still pouring in after his funeral.

Mr Croome had been head of Southfield Primary School for 19 years when he retired 11 years ago.

He and his wife Sheila lived at Kempsford.

He died at the age of 74 after a two-year battle against heart disease.

"His former colleagues have talked about his calm discipline and his way of making every child feel valued," said Mrs Croome.

He was known as the teacher with the toffees because of his habit of handing out sweets to pupils as a reward for good work.

"People are also recalling his friendship and his sense of fun, and saying what a good-humoured and compassionate man he was," she added.

Mr Croome, who did National Service in the Army Education Corps, later taught at a British forces school in Malta for five years.

He was a keen member of a gliding club at Shrivenham and took to the air whenever he had the opportunity.

He was also a former Rotarian.

When he retired in 1989 Southfields pupils bought him an Alsatian puppy to replace a previous pet, Marcus, who had been well-known in the school until he died.

Besides his widow he leaves a son, daughter and five grandchildren.