TRIBUTES have been paid to a former head teacher of The Billericay School.

Arthur Lingard has died from a heart attack at the age of 81.

Mr Lingard, of Drake Road, Westcliff,was appointed the head of the school when it became a comprehensive in 1969 and over the next two decades until his retirement in 1991 he oversaw its rise in exam success and as an innovative centre of education.

In the early Seventies he started an annual exchange link with a German school, the Albert Einstein Gymnasium in Reutlingen, that saw thousands of students from both countries benefitting from the initiative.

Mr Lingard introduced hundreds of children to touring other countries through school cruises to a number of destinations throughout the decade.

This cultivated a love of cruising for Mr and Mrs Lingard who enjoyed worldwide trip in his retirement.

Peter Owen, a Billericay School governor for the past 38 years, said: “Arthur was an impressive character, fiercely proud of his school.

“He never lost an opportunity to publicise its achievements and particularly those of his students and staff and was passionately committed to new opportunities that would benefit the school.

“He will not be forgotten by the thousands for whose future he took a keen interest and responsibility.”

Eileen Simmons, a deputy head for ten years before progressing to become head teacher at Castleview School on Canvey.

Mrs Simmons said: “Arthur Lingard was an inspiring headteacher, who made Billericay School a fine school with an excellent reputation, and cohorts of pupils have been proud to say they were educated there.

“His strength was to have exceptionally high expectations of pupils and staff.”

Mr Lingard , a former member of Billericay Rotary Club, was on holiday on a cruise of the Baltic with his wife Elizabeth when he fell ill.

Yorkshire born Mr Lingard also leaves his daughter Susan, sons Richard and Michael and six grandchildren.

A memorial service to celebrate his life is to be organised by his family at the end of July.