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Tributes paid to 'hero' teacher | Tributes paid to 'hero' teacher |
(about 23 hours later) | |
Mourners have paid tribute to a "hero" Staffordshire 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 86-year-old mother who died in a Cornish hotel fire. |
Peter Hughes, 43, 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. | |
Friend Dave Ryder said at the funeral in St Mark's Church, Great Wyrley, that they had shared a "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. |
Mr Ryder told mourners the mother and son shared a "great sense of humour". | Mr Ryder told mourners 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 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." | "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 | Here is a man who in the richest and fullest sense of the word is a hero Dave RyderFamily friend |
Mr Ryder, who is deputy head of Cheslyn Hay Sport and Community High School, Staffordshire, added that Mr Hughes "always stood up for what was right". | Mr Ryder, who is deputy head of Cheslyn Hay Sport and Community High School, Staffordshire, 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." | "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." |
An inquest held last month heard 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 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 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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
"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." |