ERNEST Smallridge, who has died aged 86, was a respected teacher who taught generations of Oxford children.

He also had a distinguished wartime career as an RAF navigator and was a keen morris dancing tutor, musician and sportsman.

He taught at Botley Primary School for 36 years. He was encouraged to apply for headships, but decided to stay doing what he loved most — teaching children.

A talented teacher with wide-ranging abilities, he taught morris dancing armed with his trusty fiddle and was head of sport for all ages in the junior school.

He also had a fine voice and took part in school productions.

Mr Smallridge, who was born in London as the son of a policeman, joined the RAF early in the Second World War.

He wanted to be a pilot, but senior officers doubted his ability to land a plane without bouncing, so diverted him to navigation.

It was a wise move — thanks largely to his skill, the crew of his Lancaster completed 30 dangerous missions over Germany without incident.

Later in the war, Mr Smallridge trained other young men to become navigators.

After being demobbed, he trained as a teacher and moved to Botley School in 1949.

He had a deep love of sport, especially football and cricket. He developed talented teams at Botley School and trained the Oxford Boys Under 15 football team for many years, helping to take them to Wembley in 1972.

Mr Smallridge — nicknamed ‘Snow’ because of his blond hair as a young man — leaves a widow Nina, to whom he was married for 63 years, four children, Chris, David, Nina and Anne, and four grandchildren. Their other son, John, died in 1994.

In a statement, the family said: “He will be fondly remembered by generations of Botley residents, for his service to the community, his kindness and his sense of humour.

“He was much loved and will be greatly missed, a gentle and generous man who gave much more than he took.”

The funeral will be at Oxford Crematorium on Friday at noon.