A DEDICATED former head teacher of a York primary school who was “loved by everyone” has died, aged 60.

Tributes have been paid to Hugh McMillan, pictured above in 1992, who was head teacher of English Martyrs’ RC Primary School for 13 years, from 1992 to 2005.

His widow, Jane McMillan, of Sutton-upon-Derwent, near York, said: “Children were his life. He loved teaching them, he loved seeing them learn and he loved watching them achieve, not just in academic ways, but in any other way.”

Derek Sutherland, current head teacher of the school, in Hamilton Drive, Acomb, described the father-of-one as a “particularly kind” man.

“He was just so respected by everyone and he’s going to be very much missed by the pupils, staff, parents and governors.”

Hugh was born in York in 1949. He went to school in the city, attending St Wilfrid’s RC Primary School, in Monkgate.

After he left school, he got an apprenticeship as an electrical engineer at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, in Strensall, York, working on army vehicles.

But he had a burning desire to teach, and, after completing the apprenticeship, he embarked on a teacher training qualification at what is now York St John University, where he met Jane in 1971.

In 1974, the couple got married at St Wilfrid’s RC Church, in Duncombe Place, York.

They both took up teaching posts in Nottingham and in 1982 Hugh got a deputy headship at a primary school in Brigg, near Scunthorpe.

About six years later, he got a headship at a primary school in Doncaster, working there until he became head teacher at English Martyrs’. Jane said Hugh was involved in amateur dramatics while he was in York, and loved the theatre, travelling and flying.

“He did a lot, but he always did it quietly. He was a good man.” Hugh, who is also survived by his son, Jamie, 33, and his daughter-in-law, Natalia, died at York Hospital on November 28 after suffering a heart attack. His funeral will take place at English Martyrs’ RC Church, in Dalton Terrace, York, at 12.45pm, on Tuesday.