A FORMER Bolton teacher, who was "devoted to the English language" has died at his home in Portugal aged 78.

Alan Tyrer CBE, who attended Farnworth Grammar School before winning a scholarship to Shrewsbury School, was a member of the Queens English Society and lived an active life with a string of achievements.

He studied German and French at Cambridge. He read for the Bar but later moved into teaching and became Head of Modern Languages at Bridgewater Girls Grammar School where he spent four years.

After 15 years in teaching, Mr Tyrer changed careers again when in 1973 he was appointed Head of the English Division of the Court of Justice of the European Communities in Luxembourg and was responsible for translating into English the judgements of the court.

He was awarded the CBE in recognition of his services to Europe after his retirement in 1983.

He died suddenly at his home in Portugal leaving a wife, Linda, two daughters, Marion and Rosamond, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Linda said: " Alan was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and cat lover. Not least, Alan was a great friend and to judge by the messages pouring out of my fax, Alan is already sorely missed by all who knew him."

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