A MAN who taught thousands of school children in York has died aged 101.

John Feasby was the former head teacher at Osbaldwick Primary School in the city until his retirement in 1982 after 30 years.

As an armourer in the RAF during the Second World War, John saw military service across the world working on Spitfires and Hurricanes in Italy, Africa and Malta.

John, of Stockton Lane, was a keen painter, musician and follower of Yorkshire Cricket.

A spokesman for Ebor Academy Trust, which runs Osbaldwick now, said: “We send condolences to John’s family and friends and give thanks for a long life well lived.”

Born in Scagglethorpe near Malton in May 1920, John went to school in Setterington, before getting a scholarship to Malton Grammar School.

He undertook teacher training at St John’s College in York from 1938 - 1940 and went into service after completion of his teacher training, serving in the desert campaign in Egypt, before moving to Malta and Italy.

His first teaching job was at Wetwang School, he then moved to Malton Methodist School, where he met his future wife, Mollie, who was also a teacher there, before becoming head at Osbaldwick in 1952.

He was the school’s first head and it grew significantly and changed premises while John was at the helm.

John was married to Mollie in 1952 until her death in 2006. Their son, Peter, was born in 1955, but sadly Peter died in June 2004 whilst he was head teacher at Robert Wilkinson School in Strensall. Peter and his wife, Lisa, have two sons, Tom, 29 and Jack, 25.

After retiring, John and Mollie were secretaries for the National Trust in York for more than 20 years, and John was also a voluntary guide at York Minster.

John was the first of just four heads who have been in charge at Osbaldwick, being followed by Robin Mason, Lesley Barringer and Matt Brown.

Lisa said: “John had strong Methodist beliefs, he was very correct and proper and was always smartly turned out. He always had a tie on. After Mollie died, he taught himself how to cook and how to use a computer so he could read The Press online. He also taught himself Italian.”

John’s funeral will be held on November 11 at 2.30 pm at Heworth, Christ Church in Stockton Lane.