WONDERFUL husband, father and grandfather Peter Rudkin died suddenly at the end of a holiday in France.

Born in Stockport, Cheshire in 1941, Peter left Stockport Technical School after studying for O-levels, to work for ICI developing polyurethane foam.

He studied general science at Alsager Teacher Training College and met his future wife Pat in the first term. Both enjoyed classical music at the Halle in Manchester as well as jazz, dancing and hiking in the Derbyshire hills.

Peter moved to London to teach science at Thornton Heath following Pat, who was a Londoner. After marrying in 1966 the couple set up home in a flat but moved to Suffolk to buy a house.

Peter taught science at Roman Hill Secondary School in Lowestoft and later became head of science at Hartham secondary school in Norfolk. He played and taught badminton, taking up sea sailing at Kessingland and on the Broads. Both his daughters Keren and Gail were born at Kessingland and the family moved to Lowestoft in 1972.

Peter became a season ticket holder at Norwich City Football Club which he supported for the rest of his life. Re-organisation of his school in 1979 led to him seeking a new job and he became head of science at Summerbee School in Bournemouth in January 2000.

Pat and Peter both graduated with honours from the Open University in December 1984, in different aspects of science. He stayed at Summerbee until he retired, having been appointed an assistant head and forging many good friendships with other members of staff.

Peter joined Hunger Hill Badminton Club in Poole, representing Dorset several times in under-65 teams. Two of his proudest moments were walking his daughters down the aisle and welcoming his sons-in-law Colin and Paul into the family to discuss real ale, red wine and cricket. He was blessed six times over by the arrival of his beloved grandchildren.

Peter’s other great love was genealogy and he had been tracing his family tree since 1984, helping people from all over the world with a Rudkin connection He and Pat holidayed all over England with their daughters and a tent, graduating to a caravan in 1987. They had been on holiday to Belgium and France when Peter suffered a heart attack on the last day. Valiant efforts to save him failed.

Peter died on July 3 and a service to celebrate his life, conducted by the Rev David Hodson, took place at Poole Crematorium on July 19.