FORMER headteacher of Whiteshill Primary School Robert Cox has died unexpectedly of heart failure aged 62.

Robert, from Upton St Leonards, died at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital on June 2.

He worked at Whiteshill for nearly 15 years. and started teaching when he was just 21.

His wife Dorothy, 59, who was also a headteacher at Longlevens Infant School in Gloucester, said he was well respected in the community.

"He absolutely adored children, even on holiday they would gather near us - he had a real way with them," she said.

The couple enjoyed holidays together in the Alps and the Pyrenees, and had only been back two weeks from walking in the Yorkshire Dales when he died.

"Robert enjoyed the wilder areas," she said.

"He didn't let his heart problems get in the way of anything - he lived life to the full."

A West Ham supporter, Robert loved football and rugby, and was a member of The Falcon Bowling Club in Painswick.

Dorothy was just 10 when she met Robert at the church youth club. They had two sons, David, now 30, and Stephen, aged 26.

Robert and Dorothy moved to the Cotswolds in 1984 and the area provided the perfect setting for his favourite passtime, walking.

"He loved trekking up to Painswick Beacon, where he would 'pontificate' - that's what he said," said Dorothy.

"He would think how wonderful the world was, he loved nature and was totally at peace when walking."

When Robert left Whiteshill Primary School in 1997, he spent his time caring for adults with learning difficulties.

Dorothy retired at Easter, and she and Robert had happily made plans for the future.

"We were going to travel the world together - but somehow we knew he was on borrowed time" she said.

"I have not cracked the Cotswold Way trail so he was insistent he was going to take me on it.

"It is hard but Robert is the sort of person who wouldn't want me to sit and mope, he would want me to get on with life."