My friend David Garratt, who has died aged 88, was a primary school headteacher who was a great supporter of community activities in his home county of Leicestershire.
In retirement he worked for the World-wide Education Service and taught pupils internationally, including in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Egypt, making great friends with fellow teachers and travelling companions along the way.
Always an active citizen in his local community, he was a parish councillor in the Leicestershire village of Whetstone, and was five times chairman of the parish council, as well as, latterly, being its clerk.
Over the years he played a big part in raising £400,000 for the Penny in the Pound Appeal set up by the Diocese of Leicester to finance water projects in developing countries. People in the diocese were asked to donate 1% of their income to the cause, and some, including David, supported it for nearly 20 years.
Born in South Wigston in Leicestershire, to Harry Garratt, a carpenter, and Dorothy (nee Cox), David went to Kibworth grammar school and then trained as a teacher at Worcester Teacher Training College.
Working thereafter at various primary schools in Leicestershire, he later completed a degree in education at Warwick University while continuing with his day job. In 1960 he married Kate Boulter, a fellow teacher, and together they shared a great interest in birds and flowers. Eventually David was appointed headmaster of the primary school in Whetstone, where in tune with his love of animals and the natural world he decided to keep sheep on the school field.
David was a phenomenal reader and sharer of thoughts. He read widely – theology, books on nature and gardening, history, philosophy, politics and biographies – and discussed his reading enthusiastically with his huge circle of friends. He and Kate kept a variety of pets, including tortoises who came with them on holiday, and always a rescue dog of some kind, latterly a lurcher called Paddy.
He also loved tending to his allotment and engaging in vegetable talk and plant-swapping.
He is survived by Kate and his brother, Roger.
