AN ARTS society is planning to pay tribute to a former South Lakeland headmaster and ‘renaissance man' by setting up an award in his memory.

Colin Heighton, a former headmaster of Stramongate Primary School, Kendal, passed away surrounded by his family at his home in Lipwood House, Windermere, at the age of 88.

Julia Abrey, Mr Heighton’s daughter, said: “My father was a true renaissance man. He knew everything about everything. He loved to read and recite poetry, he painted and cooked, he could do anything apart from singing. He was the most amazing of parents, a renaissance man and my hero.”

The Windermere Art Society, of which Mr Heighton was the chairman and later the president, is now planning to give the best young artist an award in his name at its next annual exhibition.

Among his many interests, Mr Heighton was a talented watercolourist, who enjoyed depicting buildings and landscapes.

Julia Heyworth, a committee member for the Windermere Art Society, who described Mr Heighton as ‘an old-fashioned gentleman,' said: “This seems fitting, as Colin was a headmaster and very keen on children and children’s education and teaching people about art.”

Mr Heighton was born on December 21, 1927, in Kendal as the youngest of three children to his parents Arthur and Florence.

A former student of St Mary's Boys School, Mr Heighton was very close to his siblings Audrey and Arthur.

After living mostly in and around the South Lakeland area, the family settled in Windermere, where Mr Heighton lived for the rest of his life.

On July 29, 1950, Mr Heighton married Marjorie Sanderson at St Mary's Church in Applethwaite, Windermere, and the marriage was described as ‘a partnership of some 66 years of deep happiness and love.’

The couple had a one child, Julia, and one grandchild, Tom.

Mr Heighton, who trained as a teacher in Chester College and worked in Blackpool and St George's School, Kendal, became the headmaster of Stramongate School when it was re-opened as a nursery in the mid-1960s.

As a headmaster, Mr Heighton was involved in everything that took place in the school, including encouraging children in their arts education and starting the after-school gymnastics club, before his retirement in 1988.

Elaine Nicholls, a former teacher at Stramongate, said: “To Colin, the children came first. Whatever was being done, it was done for the best of the children.

“He would always remember every pupil’s name and make every child feel special.”

Jean Gowland, a former deputy head of Stramongate, said: “Colin was charismatic, strong-willed and determined, with a vision for his school which never left him and made Stramongate so successful.”