THE wife of popular junior school teacher Mike Myatt, has paid tribute to her talented husband.

Head teacher Alma Myatt, who worked with her husband at St Thomas of Canterbury School in Rainham, where he was Year 3 class teacher, said he was an inspiration to youngsters.

She said: "He had a talent for teaching, he could inspire children in a way that was unique.

"He was a great storyteller and had a particular way with children who were struggling with their lessons.

"He had a way of making complicated areas understandable to young minds. Children loved learning from him."

The couple married in 1984, having met at teacher training college in Lancashire. They have three children – Ben, 25, who lives in Liverpool, Katie, 22, also a teacher, and Becky, 20, who is in her third year at university.

They had worked together at the school, in Romany Road, for six years.

Mr Myatt, who died suddenly on July 30 aged 52, had previously taught at Parkwood Junior School and a school in West Malling before joining St Augustine's of Canterbury, in Deanwood Drive, Parkwood, where he stayed for 18 years.

Colleagues, parents and pupils were among the congregation at Mr Myatt's funeral, which took place at St Thomas of Canterbury Church in London Road, Rainham, on August 13.

Mrs Myatt said: "I have had a lot of support and would like to thank everyone who has sent condolence and memories of Mike.

"He will be much-missed by everyone."

Rose Collinson, director of education at Medway Council, added her own tribute.

She said: "We were so very sorry to hear of the death of Mike Myatt. He contributed so much to many children's lives in his work in Medway schools."

Mr Myatt died at home from a heart condition.