A former deputy head of the Paston School, North Walsham, and vice principal of its successor sixth form college, has died aged 88.

Peter Herbert 'Percy' Williams lost his long battle with Parkinson's Disease on March 7.

He was well-known as a local sportsman, leading member of Cromer and District Horticultural Society and a tenor with Cromer and Sheringham Choral Society.

Born in Streatham. South London, in 1925, Mr Williams was one of five children including twin sister, Wendy.

After the family moved to Seaford, Sussex, Mr Williams qualified for Lewes Grammar School and in 1942 entered St Catherine's College, Cambridge - joining the RAF on commission in 1943.

He trained as a navigating officer in the UK and Canada serving mostly on 21 Squadron, flying Mosquitoes.

Mr Williams left the RAF in 1947 and returned to university, studying geography at St Catherine's, Oxford.

He married Nancy Raine in 1949 and after graduation in 1950 began teaching at Wirral Grammar School, Birkenhead.

The family moved to Cromer in 1957 after Mr Williams was appointed head of geography at Paston and in 1969 moved to West Runton.

Known as 'Percy', Mr Williams remained head of geography until the late 1970s when he became deputy headmaster and then vice principal of Paston Sixth Form College in 1984.

Mr Williams played football as a schoolboy and rugby union for his college and taught cricket and hockey at Paston.

He played for Overstrand Cricket Club from 1958 to 1972 captaining the Saturday team. He also played hockey for Cromer and enjoyed tennis, badminton, table tennis, bowls and golf.

Mr Williams was a passionate gardener and served on the Cromer and District Horticultural Society committee – becoming secretary and chairman.

He loved walking in the Lake District and northern hills of Britain and travelled widely in Holland, France, Spain and Italy.

Mr Williams was widely read with a great interest in the First World War and kept updated on his academic subject in later life.

He had a great knowledge and love of British flora, fauna and natural history.

Mr Williams also sang tenor with Cromer and Sheringham Choral Society for more than 25 years.

? Mr Williams' death follows that of his colleague Philip Havercroft, who taught English at the Paston School. Mr Havercroft, 92, known as 'Doker', died at his West Runton home on February 14. A widower since the death of his wife Isobel, Mr Havercroft leaves children Jane, Clare and Peter, and grandchildren.