Teacher Malcolm Hanson died at the age of 63 after a battle with cancer.

Mr Hanson was born in 1950 in Birmingham.

Growing up in the Midlands he became a keen fisherman regularly cycling to Stratford-upon-Avon for a day’s fishing.

He funded these trips with part-time jobs as a paperboy, butcher’s assistant and ice cream man.

In 1968 he left Birmingham to start teacher training at Exmouth and later went on to complete a Master’s Degree in Education at the University of Bristol.

Mr Hanson took up his first teaching appointment at Northam Burrows School near Bideford where he met his wife Sheila, who was a student teacher. The couple married after 18 months.

They moved to Marlborough in 1974 where their three sons Edward, Thomas and Rupert were born.

After moving to Wiltshire Mr Hanson took up a post at a school in Swindon for children with behavioural difficulties.

Although he had thrived in this challenging role, he decided to move to the Children’s Hospital at St Luke’s, Marlborough where he reached the level of deputy head teacher.

Not long after arriving in Wiltshire he pursued his dream of leasing a section of the River Kennet and he also opened a fishing shop just off Marlborough High Street.

In 1988 he started to coach fly fishing at the Marlborough College Summer School, a role which he enjoyed greatly and continued for a quarter of a century.

Later in his professional career Mr Hanson built on his flair for coaching and personal development by serving as development manager to The Salmon and Trout Association as well as assisting Sport England with its child welfare programmes, across a wide range of sporting disciplines.

He was also a very capable rugby hooker and also played football and hockey during his student days.

He completed the London Marathon five times and cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise money for the NSPCC.

Mr Hanson was a very practical person who took great care of his home and garden and was always planning his next project, whether this was digging another pond for his fish or building a new barbecue.

Every summer he and Mrs Hanson took their sons off to a different holiday destination, generally involving a roundabout route across Europe. Once the boys had left home, the couple took the opportunity to travel further afield and enjoyed visits to Sri Lanka, Peru, the United States and, just a few months ago, China.

A large congregation gathered at St George’s Church, Preshute on Tuesday, February 4 for a Service of Thanksgiving for Mr Hanson’s life.

He is survived by his wife, children, mother, Sadie, and sister, Angela.

Donations can be made to Prospect Hospice in memory of Mr Hanson, sent care of Dianne Mackinder Funeral Service, Wagon Yard, London Road, Marlborough SN8 1LH.