Tributes paid to much-

TRIBUTES have been paid to a “teacher in a million” who spent decades teaching at junior schools in Cheltenham, writes Robin Jenkins.

Clive Jenkins, who has died aged 88, will be best remembered for a long stint at what was then Elmfield Junior School and is now Gardners Lane Primary School.

He helped hundreds of children, some of whom came from disadvantaged backgrounds in one of the toughest parts of town, while he was there in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. He not only gave his pupils the essential education they needed in the classroom but on the sports pitches too staying behind every evening so they could enjoy football, cricket, volleyball, handball, badminton, rounders and athletics.

Mr Jenkins was hugely proud of the fact that one of the boys in his school football team in the 1970s was Steve Cotterill, who went on to become a player and then manager at Cheltenham Town Football Club.

He also loved the fact that many of his former pupils would greet him warmly when they bumped into him in town, often many years after they had left the school.

Most of his career in Cheltenham was spent at Elmfield, from where he retired in 1989, but he carried on until 1996 as a supply teacher at places such as Prestbury St Mary’s, Swindon Village, Charlton Kings, Dunalley and Whaddon.

Known for being firm but fair, his colourful teaching style and caring nature endeared him to generations of children.

Paying tribute, Lisa-Jane Johnsey described him as a “teacher in a million”, for whom everyone had respect. Billy Davis, who was one of a number of talented footballers to benefit from Mr Jenkins’ enthusiastic sports sessions, said: “Such a top man and great teacher. Will be sorely missed.”