Born in Mayfield, a village near Ashbourne in Derbyshire, in 1915, Mr Birch won a scholarship to Ashbourne Grammar School, where he was cricket captain and opening bat for Derbyshire schools. He went to Goldsmiths College, in London, to qualify as a teacher.

His first teaching post was in Gisburn, where he met his future wife, Gertrude, who worked at the Old Vicarage where he lodged. They married in 1938, but were soon separated by the Second World War. Mr Birch joined the Royal Navy, where he was first a gunner on a battleship and then a signaller/decoder on destroyers escorting convoys in the Mediterranean on their vital runs from Tripoli and Alexandria to besieged Tobruk.

After the war he returned to Gisburn School and moved in 1949 to the post of Deputy Head at Riversmead Secondary School at Grindleton (now Bowland High School) teaching PE and maths, where he stayed until his retirement in 1975.

Always a well-respected teacher, he encouraged his students with his high level of enthusiasm for the subjects he taught. His greatest love was football and cricket and he organised several good football teams, one of which continues to have reunions to which he was always invited. After his retirement he had many visits from former pupils.

He had an amazing memory for each pupil he had taught and corresponded with many, following their careers with great interest. On many drives around the Ribble Valley with family, he would point out the homes of ex-pupils in many farms and villages, remembering their names and achievements.

He had a daughter, Joyce, and two sons, Richard and Tom, all of whom, as well as his wife, shared his love of ball games. Family outings and holidays were always spent playing cricket or catching a tennis ball. Richard followed in his footsteps as a PE teacher and Tom played cricket for Great Harwood and football for local teams. Mr Birch had six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

His passion for world affairs, politics and environmental issues never waned throughout his life. He joined the CND when it was first formed and contributed to many charities supporting the oppressed, the starving and the environment.

Above all he was a compassionate and peace-loving man who will be sadly missed by his family, friends and ex-pupils. His family wish to thank friends for their kind donations to the RNLI.

Mr Birch is pictured holding an Ashbourne Shrovetide Football Trophy from 1911, having often participated in this event throughout his youth.