Tributes to former Wiltshire College teacher Robin Lodder

Robin Lodder, who lived in Woodfalls, taught in the engineering and building department at Salisbury College of Further Education, which is now Wiltshire College, for 30 years.

His family say he was “an inspiration to many young students and sportsmen”.

Born in Kent in 1934, Robin evacuated to a farm in North Devon with a few family members when the bombing raids started.

There he met Stella Andrew, who, in 1958, became his wife. The pair had four children, three granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.

Robin left school aged 15 to become an apprentice for Vickers Armstrong. Day release at college inspired him to become a teacher, a long-held ambition.

He applied to Garnet Teacher Training College in London and after qualifying, he moved to Salisbury where he worked as a teacher for three decades.

His daughter Marion Ivey, 59, said: “He was very funny. One thing I remember is how good he was at remembering old students which was quite something considering how many people he taught over the years.

“I think he was quite popular.”

Robin was also a keen sportsman and played competitive sports for much of his life – his great loves being rugby and cricket.

He was part of the original group of locals who set up Redlynch Social Club.

He was also passionate about literature, poetry, classical music and gardening.

“He used to have allotments with lots of vegetables, his great claim to fame was growing 25 rows of potatoes,” Marion said.

Robin passed away on April 6. His family say he will be greatly missed.

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