Inspirational Wolverhampton teacher dies aged 62

Ralph Atkinson taught geography to hundreds of pupils over many years at Colton Hills Community School.

A keen lover of the outdoors, he was also able to inspire many youngsters to get out and explore the UK's countryside and mountains.

Mr Atkinson was born in the Mile End Hospital in London's East End and it was while he was a pupil at West Hatch Technical High School, Chigwell, Essex, that he first developed his love of the outdoors.

His sister Pauline Adams said: "What started it all was the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. He got a gold award from the Duke of Edinburgh himself at Buckingham Palace in 1970. Before he went to the palace mum threatened to cut off his shoulder-length hair while he was asleep because she was so embarrassed. 'You are not meeting the Duke of Edinburgh looking like that,' she said."

After studying at Wrexham College from 1975 to 1978, Mr Atkinson moved to Wolverhampton to teach at Colton Hills. He stayed until he retired in 2004 when he was the head of year.

Soon after moving to the city Mr Atkinson joined the Wolverhampton Mountaineering Club (WMC) and became an active member enjoying a mix of climbing, skiing, hill walking and staying at the club's hut in north Wales.

In 1989, he was a member of a WMC expedition to the Himalayas staying at the British embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.

He also went on a two-man expedition to Baffin Island, Canada, in 1993 crossing the island's glaciers while pulling all his equipment on a sledge.

It was during this time that he helped to introduce many local youngsters to the outdoors.

Former pupil Andrew Tomlinson paid tribute to Mr Atkinson and said: "He was a top teacher, one that pupils respected. Geography was one of my favourite subjects, especially the field trips. I remember a good one in the Lake District tramping around in the rain in oversized rain coats – something we would do together years later, but this time in proper walking gear. When I joined the WMC Ralph was already an experienced member and became a friend who I was lucky to spend some quality climbing and walking days with.

"I think Ralph used to like to remind me that he was still the teacher with his jokes about me not being silly or out of hand. That being said, it was all in jest and it was just Ralph being a fun person to be around. A day out hill walking or on a climb with Ralph was always a good day."

Mr Atkinson married his wife Sue in October 2007 and moved from Penkridge to Milton, Stoke. He first fell ill last November. The original diagnosis was a mini-stroke and Ralph made a recovery, only to fall ill again in February. He was finally told that he had a brain tumour in late March.

After an operation at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in April, he began a course of radiotherapy – only to be told that the cancer had spread to his spine and had become inoperable. After being cared for at home by his wife and family Mr Atkinson died in the early hours of Thursday, September 25. He leaves behind his wife Sue and sister Pauline.

Mr Atkinson's funeral will be held at 11.30am on Monday at Milton Parish Church.

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