THE funeral has taken place of John Ivor Lees following his death on March 2 at Parc-y-Llyn Nursing Home in south Wales. He was 81.

Ivor came to Northwich in 1947 after serving in the RAF and graduating from Selwyn College, Cambridge.

He taught history and economics to two generations of pupils at Sir John Deane's Grammar School.

Easily recognised for his height and presence, he was very well known and ultimately became deputy head before retiring in the early 1980s.

Throughout this time he was very active at Northwich Rowing Club, where he became a life member and had a boat named after him in the mid 1990s.

After retirement he moved to St David's, where he helped visitors in the famous cathedral until failing health prevented.

He was a gentle but determined and very much respected man who is greatly missed by his wife Angela, surviving children Jenny and Simon (Jonathan sadly died in 1995) and their respective families.

The service, at Narberth Crematorium, was conducted by the Dean of St David's.