A former teacher from Llanfyllin recently passed away after many decades of service to local schools and the community.

Colin Breese, a former teacher at Llanfyllin High School from 1963 to 1992 passed away on July 28.

Colin was head of modern languages at Llanfyllin High School where he taught Latin, French and Spanish.

He was born in Newtown and attended Penygloddfa School and later Newtown Boys’ Grammar School, where he gained the John Thomas Memorial Prize for the best results at A-Level in Montgomeryshire.

He was the first pupil from the school to be awarded a state scholarship.

In 1954 his academic studies were interrupted by compulsory national service, for which he served two years in the Royal Artillery at Oldenburg, Northern Germany.

In 1956 Colin resumed his studies at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, gaining a degree in Modern and Medieval Languages and in his fourth year studied for a BA in archaeology and anthropology.

In 1962 Colin married Janet Richards at the Welsh Congregational Chapel in Newtown.

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He then took up a teaching post at King’s College, Worcester and later at King Edward VI School, Stourbridge before moving to Llanfyllin High School as Head of Modern Languages, where he remained until his retirement.

In 1964 Colin successfully applied to the Ministry of Defence for an overseas post in Singapore and was seconded for a couple of years, teaching at the Bourne Ministry of Defence School in Singapore.

Following his retirement he began travelling extensively overseas, a hobby he kept up until his travels were interrupted by the Covid pandemic.

He was kept busy by his other hobby, gardening, even winning a silver cup for his efforts.

In 2010 Colin was presented with a certificate by Glyn Davies, MP for his long years of service as a voluntary driver for the NMVB, Welshpool.

Following a long illness Colin died very peacefully and is survived by three sons, Dr Tim Breese and wife Judy, Dr Chris Breese and wife Dr Sarah Breese and Professor Mark Breese and wife Maryann Breese, Singapore and his eight grandchildren.

A funeral service was held on Tuesday, August 9 followed by a public Memorial Service at St Myllin’s Parish Church.