Tributes have been paid to a former Welwyn Garden City teacher who has died following a battle with dementia.

Terry Hogan passed away peacefully on the evening of April 9, with his family describing him as "well-loved and fondly remembered by his pupils", having worked at a number of schools.

He began his teaching career at Our Lady School in September 1958, before returning to college to study for a diploma in art education, which found him in the same group as Chris White, bassist and songwriter of The Zombies.

After completing his diploma, he taught in Ware for a year, before joining the staff of the newly opened St Joseph’s School in Chequers, which later merged with Mater Dei to become Holy Trinity.

He continued to teach there until it closed in the late 1980s, and worked as a supply teacher for a number of years before taking an early retirement.

During retirement, he volunteered for a range of groups and charities, and spent a lot of his time growing fruit and vegetables in his Brockswood Lane allotment.

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He was also instantly recognisable around Welwyn Garden City, often being seen driving his bright yellow Morris Minor van and eccentric black trade bike.

"His deteriorating health forced him into an increasingly sedate existence with the final two weeks seeing him bedridden," said Tim Hogan.

"Even as his dementia worsened, he never lost his sense of the absurd, as witnessed by the photographs of an impromptu game we created during lockdown.

"His funeral will take place at Holy Family Church in Shoplands at 12pm on Thursday, May 23, followed by a burial at Hatfield Lawn Cemetery, and then a wake which will most likely be at Tewinbury Farm.

"The family would like you to come to whichever parts of the day are convenient. Flowers and rosemary are welcome, or donations to Alzheimer's Society if you prefer."