The former deputy headteacher of St John’s School in Marlborough, Melvyn Lillywhite, has died of cancer at the age of 70.

Mr Lillywhite was born in 1940 in Gosport, Hampshire, and was the eldest of three boys. After attending the local primary and grammar schools, he attended Bognor Regis Training College where he met his wife Jan, and was married at Barton Stacey, near Winchester, in 1963.

His career began at a relatively new secondary school in Romford, Essex, where he taught geography.

He then became head of department at a comprehensive school in Thundersley, near Southend, and concurrently gained additional qualifications at London University.

In 1973 he moved to Marlborough with his young family to take up the post of deputy head at what is now St John’s School and Community College where he remained until his retirement in 1997, with a break for training at an Oxford College and Bath University.

He was also heavily involved in management training for Wiltshire Local Education Authority for a number of years.

Mr Lillywhite, who lived in Manton, was chairman of Marlborough Area Development Trust for more than five years and was a member of Manton Residents’ Association for 21 years.

He also served on Preshute Parish Council, was on the steering committee for community planning in the Marlborough Community Area and Marlborough and Villages Community Area Partnership Committee.

Since 1976 he was a very active Rotarian in Marlborough and served as president in 1982/3. He was honoured to be made a Paul Harris Fellow by the club in 1996.

Mr Lillywhite is survived by his beloved wife Jan and their three sons – Ralph, Austin and Grant – and seven grandchildren – Joshua, Oliver, Finlay, Sam, Zach, Grace and Zane.

A memorial service will be held at St Mary’s Church, Marlborough, at 3pm on Monday August 9.

Family flowers only but donations, if desired, can be made towards a new classroom at St John’s School and Community College.