Dr Martin, the former head of science at St Bernard's Catholic School

FAMILY and friends gathered to pay their last respects to popular teacher Edward Martin at his funeral on Saturday morning.

Dr Martin, the former head of science at St Bernard's Catholic School in Daws Hill, High Wycombe, died on Sunday, October 30, after a long fight with a rare form of abdominal cancer.

Hundreds of people packed into Holy Trinity Church in Lane End for the service to remember the achievements of his life. Tributes were led by some of Dr Martin's nine children. His son, Mike, read a poem recalling some of his fondest memories, and daughter Rosie spoke of her earliest childhood memory and of how fond she was of spending time with her dad.

Dr Martin, known as Ted to his friends and family, taught at St Bernard's from 2000 to 2002. Prior to that, between 1994 and 1999, he was a chemistry teacher at Sir William Borlase's Grammar School in West Street, Marlow. Friends and former colleagues also shared their memories of Dr Martin. Philip Maxwell, a biology teacher at St Bernard's, first met Dr Martin when they were in training together.

He said: "Over the last two years I have had the chance to speak to a lot of pupils and they have all commented that he was one of best teachers they had. He took many hands, opened many minds, and touched many hearts."

Dr Martin, who lived in Shelburne Road, High Wycombe, was also one of the country's best bridge players, representing both Derbyshire and Wales. A playing colleague said: "I will miss Ted for his friendly matter-of-fact manner. The bridge community is much poorer for his passing."

As a chemist, Dr Martin passionately believed in furthering scientific research and volunteered to test revolutionary cancer drugs that prolonged his life.

Addressing the congregation, Reverend Robert Jennings, spoke of Dr Martin's courage in the face of his illness. He said: "He showed courage, faith and calm in facing up to what was in effect a death sentence. Ted was a remarkable man who touched so many of our lives."

Hymns were sung as family members carried his coffin to the churchyard, where he was buried.