Tributes have been paid to Tabor High School headteacher Richard Snelling who has retired following a near-fatal heart attack.

Mr Snelling, 54, decided to retire on the advice of doctors having spent 16 years at the helm of the Braintree school.

The headteacher nearly died after suffering two heart attacks within hours at his London Road home in March.

And after resting for eight months, Mr Snelling has decided a return to the Panfield Lane school may threaten his health.

Mr Snelling said: "I've been told to take it slow and being a headteacher is a busy job with stress and long hours that I've now decided retiring would be the most sensible thing to do.

"I've made that decision knowing I've left the school in capable hands."

He added: "I'm going to miss the school and it's a shame I won't be there to see the school become a single site campus next year. It's a project I have worked hard on for the best part of 10 years."

Mr Snelling now plans to work part-time as an education consultant and practice his "very bad" golf.

Acting headteacher Katherine Aldridge said she would carry on in the role until a new head is appointed next September. She added: "We shall miss him dreadfully as he has been an outstanding headteacher who is responsible for remarkable achievements.

"He has brought real wisdom to the job. His intellect and incisive thinking will be very hard to replace."

Chair of Governors Pam Fahy added it was a credit to Mr Snelling that Tabor was in good shape with an experienced team.

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