Top marks for sir half a century on

Mr Turner, aged 85, taught at Beechdale Primary School in Leamore from the age of 19 to when he retired.

His class of 1962 believe it was his inspirational style of teaching which helped most of them pass their 11-plus exam.

They met up to reminisce about their days in the classroom and to thank Mr Turner for the help he had given them during their time at the school.

The father-of-three and grandfather-of-three said he could not believe the impact he had had on his students lives

"It is very humbling to be here with everybody remembering me and my teaching," said Mr Turner, who is a former chairman and president of the Walsall Society of Artists.

"I began teaching at the age of 19 in 1948 because you could do it early in those days and I didn't retire until I was 55.

"My favourite subjects to teach were art, history and English and I tried to make them as enjoyable for the students as possible," he added.

Caroline Brown, travelled all the way from her home in Devon to meet her former teacher.

The 63-year-old retired sales and marketing assistant, said: "He was such an inspirational teacher, I never forgot about him.

"He always made lessons so educational and fun and in art class he would get us to model and pose so that other students could draw us.

"I saw a picture of Gordon in the Express & Star when he was chairman of the Walsall Society of artists and one of the gang managed to get hold of his phone number and contacted him which brings us to the present day."

The event was organised by Harolld Keeling from Kidderminster who worked for the civil service before retiring.

After searching for his former classmates online using Friends Reunited, he came across Mrs Brown and the two have been talking ever since.

He said: "One thing we all remember is that Gordon used to stay after school until 7pm and he would draw a mural on the board with chalk and pastels to illustrate what we were learning in history. It was always so bright and colourful. Once there was the Great Fire of London on the board and another time there was a drawing of the cavaliers.

"He would also act out the Civil War and we made Roman and Norman helmets out of papier mache. Gordon did a great job of getting us all through our 11 plus exam and he was a real credit to the school."

Richard Thomas decided to become a teacher after being taught by Mr Turner who lives in Bell Lane, Delves.

The 63-year-old of Mellish Road, Walsall, said: "The quality of art he put into teaching was remarkable. I retired from teaching at Joseph Leckie a few years ago and I was inspired by him."

Steve Parkes who came from the Isle of Wight to see his former classmates said: "I decided to make the journey because Gordon really was the best teacher.

"He made lessons fun and enjoyable and none us ever clock watched."