A WELL-respected former Clacton teacher has died, aged 82, at his home in Italy.

Henry Bertram Morris, known as Bert, moved to Italy around 25 years ago for a new challenge, culture and language - and took up a number of building projects on a house on Monte Acuto in Umbria.

Friends said he was never happier than when relaxing with wife Barbara - also a former Clacton teacher - and his family on the terrace in the sun.

Two of his five children married Australians and Mr Morris enjoyed with nine trips 'Down Under' for periods of up to four months at a time.

After National Service, Mr Morris, who grew up in the small Worcestershire village of Clows Top, took up his teaching career as head of the classics department, first at Braintree High School and then Clacton County High School.

He also played for both Clacton rugby and cricket clubs.

He died unexpectedly on February 15 at his home. His family will gather later in the year to scatter his ashes in his childhood county of Worcestershire.

He leaves wife Barbara, children Paul, Christina, Stephen, Penny and Andrew, and nine grandchildren.

His family said: “As an intellectual, wordsmith, sportsman, craftsman and family man, Bert was a modest man with no reason to be so.”