THE family and friends of a former Blackburn headteacher will say their goodbyes at his funeral today.

Former Shadsworth High School headteacher Kenneth Bretherton died aged 90 last Monday at East Lancashire Hospice.

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Mr Bretherton attended Four Lane Ends Elementary School and was raised in Mellor before moving to Lammack to be educated at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School.

He later went to Hendon Police Training College and served in the RAF as a ground crew sergeant during the war, retrieving shot down planes in India.

After returning home due to poor health, he became a police officer in Blackburn before marrying Alice, a teacher, in 1947.

After training to teach himself, Mr Bretherton taught at Accrington Road Secondary School in Blackburn in the 1950s.

He then taught for a brief period at Witton Park High School before moving to Shadsworth High School, where he became deputy head and then head teacher.

His last role was as principal. He retired after 26 years following the death of his wife and a period of ill health.

He moved from Wiswell to Whalley and was active in the local golf club, also embarking on global travels with his partner, Christine.

He had four children, Jennifer, Pamela, Jonathan, and Jeremy.

Mr Bretherton was also survived by eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In a statement, his family said he would be ‘greatly missed by them all’.

A funeral service will be held at Pleasington Crematorium from 1.30pm today.