A HIGHLY-respected history teacher and head of sixth form at a South Lakeland school has died suddenly at home of natural causes, aged 52.

Richard Doyle had been at Dallam School, Milnthorpe, for 16 years and as well as his teaching and leadership roles had been instrumental in the introduction of the highly successful International Baccalaureate (IB).

This has run at Dallam since 2007 and has attracted students from all over the world. Mr Doyle was very well known within the IB community and sat on the UK IB council, IBSCA.

Richard Tibbott, chief executive of IBSCA, said: “Richard was a man of integrity, conviction and authority who showed both a firm professional grasp on the IB as an integral part of school business as well as his deeper commitment to the wider IB cause.”

Dallam head teacher William Bancroft also praised Mr Doyle in the highest possible terms.

“Richard was an inspirational teacher," he said. "He conveyed a profound love of his subject to his students, many of whom have gone on to study history in universities across the world.

"Richard was more than a colleague and a teacher, his professionalism, compassion and integrity made him a valued friend. We have received innumerable tributes from current and former students from around the world”.

One former student wrote: “Mr Doyle’s lessons perfectly balanced a sense of fun and seriousness and engagement that is a credit to him as a teacher.”

Growing up in Carlisle, Mr Doyle attended St Aidan’s School and was a boy chorister at Carlisle Cathedral, which started his life-long love of music. After a first career in insurance, Mr Doyle took a degree in history at Newcastle, before embarking on teacher training at St Martin’s College in Lancaster.

More than 250 people, including more than 100 current and former students, attended Mr Doyle's funeral at Carlisle Crematorium.

Tributes were read by fellow history teacher Simon Howarth who said Mr Doyle's work in the sixth form was unparalleled.

He added: “I think that the Roman Emperor Octavius would have been willing to share his final sentiments on Rome with Richard Doyle’s work with us. He found a school of clay but he left it a sixth form of marble.

The school's sixth form made up a guard of honour as the funeral cortege arrived and Rudyard Kipling’s “If” was read by head girl Lauren Tranter.

Mr Doyle leaves behind his mother Rita, sister and brother-in-law Susan and Alan, nieces Haley and Kerrie, great niece and nephews Laycey, Bobby, Jimmy and Elijah and many very grateful students.