Tributes to much-loved teacher

ROLE model for hundreds of pupils . . . Robert Edwards who died after a car accident

TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved member of Breeze Hill School who died after a road accident.

Robert Edwards (57), from Bardsley, was the deputy manager of the Inclusion Centre at Breeze Hill School, where he worked for nine years, starting as a teaching assistant.

He died on Thursday morning after the car he was driving crashed into a lamp-post in Frederick Street, Werneth.

Bernard Phillips, headteacher at Breeze Hill School, paid tribute to Mr Edwards.

He said: “There are few people in the world of work, especially in a school environment, about whom nobody has a bad word to say. Rob Edwards was one of those people.

“Every school day he would be there at 8am with a warm welcome for the breakfast-clubbers with whom he shared a brew and some toast or a game of pool before launching them into the day’s lessons with that little boost of confidence that helped them to cope.

“Rob’s calmness, humour and warmth were key factors in dealing with the problems and issues that can be barriers for some young people which they must overcome if they are to achieve.

“No crisis, no drama, no disaster seemed ever to phase Rob and, of course, that little oasis of tranquility that he carried around with him eventually rubbed off on others — adults as well as students.”

Mr Edwards, who had previously worked as a plumber, electrician, Butlin’s Redcoat and a bouncer, began his career in education as a volunteer and youth community worker at Freehold Community Primary School when it opened in 1983.

He took children and young people away on holidays as part of the Oldham Children’s Holiday project launched by former Oldham mayor Ellen Brierley.

He became a teaching assistant at Stanley Road School in 1993 before joining Alt Primary School and then Breeze Hill.

A keen bowler, Mr Edwards was a member of Wrigley Mill Bowling Club in Diggle, and had played for Springhead Liberal Bowling Club and Hurst Bowling Club in Ashton.

Mr Phillips said Mr Edwards and his long-term partner Joyce (54), who was a passenger in the car at the time of the crash and suffered a broken arm and shoulder, were looking forward to retirement. He said: “Rob has been a role-model for hundreds of young Oldhamers.

Many individual tributes have been made already by young people whose lives had been touched by this most civilised of men. Breeze Hill School has opened a Book of Remembrance for staff, students and parents to express their thoughts about Rob.”