Hundreds of mourners stood in silent tribute as the funeral cortege of Peter Rippington, a teacher killed in a coach crash in France, paused at Alvechurch Middle School in Worcestershire. Pupils, parents, and well-wishers gathered to pay their respects to the 59-year-old, who taught at the school for over three decades.
A service of thanksgiving at Alvechurch's parish church saw at least 500 mourners join Mr Rippington's family. The Reverend David Martin described him as 'a very remarkable man whose life touched hundreds, if not thousands, of other lives for the good.' He added that Mr Rippington's family embraced the 3,000 children he taught, as well as the young people he refereed and umpired.
Headteacher Karen Jordan said teaching was Mr Rippington's vocation: 'He always wanted the children to have memorable experiences. They were his reason for being.' His son Max recalled humorous anecdotes, including a time his father made a builder a cup of coffee using Bisto instead of Nescafe, saying, 'We wouldn't have changed him for the world.'
Mr Rippington's daughter Amy described him as 'kind, thoughtful, caring, loving and generous,' and highlighted his selflessness. His wife Sharon and daughter Amy were injured in the crash near Chalons-en-Champagne, which occurred as they returned from a school skiing trip. Amy added, 'We now have to be thankful for the lives of all those who were saved.'
