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Funeral held of hotel fire family Tributes paid to 'hero' teacher
(about 4 hours later)
The funeral is taking place of a Staffordshire science teacher and his 86-year-old mother who died in a Cornish hotel fire. Mourners have paid tribute to a "hero" Staffordshire teacher and his "loving" 86-year-old mother who died in a Cornish hotel fire.
Peter Hughes, 46, of Cheslyn Hay, was killed as he tried to rescue his mother Monica from the blaze at the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay on 18 August.Peter Hughes, 46, of Cheslyn Hay, was killed as he tried to rescue his mother Monica from the blaze at the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay on 18 August.
Family friend Dave Ryder said at their funeral in Great Wyrley that they had shared an "immense love of life".
Mr Hughes was head of physics at Weston Road High School in Stafford.Mr Hughes was head of physics at Weston Road High School in Stafford.
They were both being remembered at a private family funeral at St Andrew's Church, in Great Wyrley, Staffordshire. They were remembered at a private family funeral at St Andrew's Church.
Mr Ryder told mourners that the mother and son shared a "great sense of humour".
"They both grabbed life by the scruff of the neck and lived life in all its fullness, " he said.
"They were both honest and straight. There was a down-to-earth honest-to-goodness about Monica that commended her to all who knew her."
Here is a man who in the richest and fullest sense of the word is a hero Dave RyderFamily friend
Mr Ryder added that Mr Hughes "always stood up for what was right".
"Here is a man who stood tall amongst men. Here is a man who in the richest and fullest sense of the word is a hero."
'Everybody's mum'
Mr Ryder, who is deputy head of Cheslyn Hay Sport and Community High School, Staffordshire, said Mr Hughes and his mother Monica both had a "profound sense of commitment to their vocations".
"To Peter, of course, it was his teaching. It was his life. He loved it.
"But Monica too had a vocation and it's one of the most important vocations anyone can have - it was of a homemaker.
"She made her family and home her life's work. She was, as Pat, her daughter, says everybody's mum."
An inquest held last month heard that Mr Hughes was seen climbing out of the window on the third floor of the hotel shouting, "I can't move my mum," before jumping.An inquest held last month heard that Mr Hughes was seen climbing out of the window on the third floor of the hotel shouting, "I can't move my mum," before jumping.
The coroner rules Mr Hughes, who was born in Bloxwich, in the Black Country, was killed by the effect of the inhalation of smoke and toxic gases. The coroner ruled Mr Hughes, who was born in Bloxwich, in the Black Country, was killed by the effect of the inhalation of smoke and toxic gases.
Mrs Hughes was not formally identified until 11 September.Mrs Hughes was not formally identified until 11 September.
The service on Thursday was being led by the Rev Richard Westwood. Rev Richard Westwood, who conducted the funeral, said before the service: "It would be easy to let the tragic way in which both Monica and Peter died overshadow their lives and the impact they have had on so many people.
He said: "It would be easy to let the tragic way in which both Monica and Peter died overshadow their lives and the impact they have had on so many people.
"We want to make sure we honour them and thank God for them.""We want to make sure we honour them and thank God for them."