A former teacher from Salisbury who “loved life” and “gave so much to everyone he met” has passed away at the age of 82.

Dennis Richard Barnes, of Winterslow, taught at Highbury Avenue School, later Wyvern St Edmunds, for much of his career.

He was born in Ramsgate just before the outbreak of the Second World War, experiencing nights of heavy bombardment in the town, sheltering in the garden’s Anderson with his mum while his dad was with the RAF in the landing fields of North Africa.

He attended Chatham House Grammar School and went on to train to be a teacher at Westminster College and the London School of Economics.

He taught in London initially and then for the rest of his long teaching career in Highbury Avenue School, which later became Wyvern St Edmunds, in Salisbury.

He acted as teacher governor and encouraged his students to share in his love of the countryside with off-site trips to Oxenwood, a field study centre.

He also encouraged young people to help the elderly by taking groups of students to help look after their gardens.

His family say Dennis loved his long career at the school and was always happy to meet former students at the market to see how their lives had developed. He passed away on November 2.

His brother Tony said: “Dennis loved life. He travelled widely, and he gave so much to everyone he met.

“He loved Winterslow where he lived with so many good friends and neighbours around him.

“Locals will remember well his open garden events as great social occasions when funds for his local church and Salisbury Parkinson’s Group were raised.

“He taught us all so much and will be sadly missed.”