THERE was standing room only at the funeral of a former Basingstoke headteacher.

Richard Tanner, who was headteacher of The Vyne School, in South View, for eight years, died of a heart attack on January 6.

More than a hundred people gathered at the church in North Waltham to say goodbye to Mr Tanner, who led a full life, travelling around the world teaching with his wife, Linda.

The couple met when they were children in infant school together in Kent, before forming a relationship in their teenage years.

They married in their 20s in Kenya in Africa, where Richard was teaching at the time in Zambia.

The pair then spent the next three years in the country, which had a lasting impact on Richard.

He later decided to support the fees for 20 students there to go through education, and this is something Linda has vowed to continue after his death.

She said: “He went out there last year and met the boys who he has supported.”

The couple, who have two daughters and six grandchildren, travelled around the world together teaching, including in Canada and Jordan.

In 1984 the family moved from Cornwall to North Waltham for Richard to start his headship at The Vyne, where he stayed until 1992, before retiring in 1999.

Richard and Linda then went on what she describes as a “geriatric gap year”, travelling to dozens of countries including America, Fuji, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand and India.

Richard became involved with North Waltham, Steventon, Ashe and Deane History Society in his retirement, and wrote a number of booklets about the history of the area, including its links to Jane Austen.

He also sang with Basingstoke Choral Society, who performed at his funeral on January 27.

Paying tribute to her husband, Linda said: “He was very much an educator, in its broadest sense he thought education was so important for everyone of all ages. He had a very wide interest in so many things and subjects.” The 75-year-old added: “I thought he was pretty wonderful. He was a very caring family man. He thought a lot of his grandchildren. He had a very full life.”