A FORMER fighter pilot and university lecturer has died, aged 83.

Jack Taylor, who grew up in Clacton, died peacefully at home in Weston-Super-Mere on March 26.

Mr Taylor was born in Colchester on March 9, 1924, and studied at Clacton County High School before passing his matriculation during evacuation with the school to the Midlands at the start of the Second World War.

He was a keen sportsman and played cricket for the school as well as water polo on Clacton pier, against Dutch teams in the 1930s.

During the war he volunteered to join the Royal Air Force and trained as a fighter pilot officer in South Africa, in preparation for fighting in Japan, although the war ended before he went into combat.

After leaving the RAF he trained as a teacher and became principal lecturer in Education at Nottingham College of Education and in 1967 he became Head of Education at Nottingham Regional College of Technology.

In 1969 he moved to Bristol and became principal of Redland College of Education and played a major part in the college's teacher training programme.

He was also head of Academic Planning and Associate Director at the University of West of England, until he retired in 1982.

In 1997 he was awarded an honorary degree in recognition of his outstanding academic leadership and contribution to teacher education by Bristol University.

Sister Marjorie Bedeman, of Holland-on-Sea, said: "He was a wonderful person and was always cheerful. He was a wonderful brother and son."

Mr Taylor leaves his widow Gwyn and sister Marjorie.