TRIBUTES are pouring in to an inspirational Southampton teacher who had his life cut tragically short by illness.

Itchen College assistant principal Adrian Cook bravely worked at the Middle Road college where he spent 27 years until almost the very end of his battle with the muscle wasting condition motor neurone disease.

Students, colleagues and friends are to honour his life and work with thousands of Southampton students at a thanksgiving service on Thursday.

Mr Cook, who had worked his way up to assistant principal after starting as a geography and geology teacher in 1976, kept working full time until September last year and even then regularly returned on a part-time basis.

He died aged 50 at Southampton General Hospital on Saturday, January 3, after collapsing at his home in Hiltingbury. He leaves wife Claire, who works at Itchen as a college liaison officer, and three children.

Principal Barry Hicks described him as "the best principal education never had," and said he could have headed a college if he hadn't been so dedicated to Itchen.

"He was a really well grounded guy who was totally focused on the needs of students and members of staff. A teacher through and through.

"He was the sort of intelligent, thoughtful bloke you really want on your team. He was an excellent guy all round and we really miss him.

"It has been a sad start to the new year, we all feel a bit heavy-hearted. 2004 will only start for us properly after Thursday."

Itchen vice principal Hazel Croft-Phillips accompanied Mr Cook on geology field trips and remembers a remarkable teacher who made a big impact on students.

"He took hundreds of students on field trips over the years and he was a wonderful teacher. Instead of telling them what they saw, he had a wonderful way of getting people to see things for themselves. He really inspired people.

"We had a lot of people who took geology as a third choice or outside option and he inspired them so much they chose it as a degree subject and went on to work as geologists.

"He was a lovely person who always put students first. He's already being missed tremendously."

There is a private funeral for Mr Cook followed by a public thanksgiving service, which will be held at the URC Church on

Kings Road, Chandler's Ford at 11.30am on Thursday.

The family request no flowers and donations instead be sent to the Motor Neurone Disease Association, care of funeral directors Steel & Son, who can be contacted on 023 8025 5546.