A MERSEYSIDE headteacher dubbed “one of life’s gentlemen” has died.
Education chiefs last night paid tribute to the married father of four who died on Monday, aged 59, after a suspected heart attack.
Prior to his retirement in 2007, Liverpool-born Andy Traynor had overseen the education of thousands of pupils in a career spanning more than two decades.
His teaching career began at St Bonaventure’s, which became the present-day Archbishop Beck Catholic Sports College, in Walton.
He then moved to St Ambrose Barlow Catholic College, in Netherton, where he was promoted to headteacher and worked alongside head of maths and wife Cath.
His last teaching role saw him return to Archbishop Beck where he served as headteacher from 2005 to 2007.
Among those paying tribute was Bruce Hicks, assistant headteacher at Archbishop Beck, who revealed Mr Traynor’s motto of “only the best will do” would be his lasting legacy.
He added: “He was one of life’s gentlemen. Like me, he would get to school early and every day he would read from the Bible before the start of school.
“He did so much for the education of inner- city children with exceptional high standards at both his schools.” His successor at Archbishop Beck, Paul Dickinson, added: “Probably more than anyone, he helped to create and nurture the sense of community which continues to be a distinctive feature of the college.” A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday at St Peters and Paul Catholic Church, Crosby.
