A FORMER York head teacher who served on more than 70 local committees and dedicated most of his life to education in the city has died, aged 83.

John Spooner, who lived at Brinkworth Hall, Elvington, before moving to Lauren's Manor Nursing Home, died peacefully last Monday. Mr Spooner was born in Norfolk, and spent five years serving in the Middle East during the Second World War.

He moved to York in 1959 to be head teacher of Park Grove School, and was also the head of Haxby Road Primary School before moving to Carr Junior School. He worked in Kenya for two years as a lecturer at an education training college and retired in 1984.

He was a Selby district councillor and a strong Labour supporter.

He was also president of the National Parent Teachers' Association, treasurer of the Campaign for Advancement of State Education, president and secretary of the York branch of the National Union of Teachers, secretary of the National Association for Primary Education, and chairman of the York branches of UNICEF and the Workers' Educational Association.

He established a York summer school for disadvantaged children in the 1970s, an initiative later adopted by other cities. He was also a founder member of York Playspace for young children.

A funeral service will take place at York Crematorium on Friday, at 2pm. Donations will go to York Playspace.

Updated: 14:32 Monday, August 11, 2003