IT was with great sadness that I read the Star of the death of former Saints' star Don Gullick.

Although I am too young to remember him in his playing days, I do remember him as a teacher during my time at Ashton Grammar School between 1964 and 1969.

Many were the tales told to boys of 11 who were due to start at the school, of the fearsome woodwork master and his disciplinary skills, assisted with a piece of hardwood. His reputation as a strict disciplinarian made everyone stand to attention when he spoke. When you are a boy of that age, the sight of this muscular giant in front of you with the booming Welsh voice was very intimidating indeed. Woe betide any boy who accidentally planed the bench instead of the wood in the vice!

On one occasion, after breaking his leg, he returned to school and used a large anvil on a rope to get himself back into shape by lifting it from the ankle with his leg outstretched -- two of us could not even move it!

We all endured this fear of the giant for three years, until the time came to decide which subjects to take for O Level. If you happened to take Don's subject, then all was transformed. Suddenly, it was first name terms (this was in the days when all boys at the school were called by their surnames at all times by staff) and you became one of his adopted sons! The next two years saw the favoured treated to trips to see local architecture and art galleries, occasional rugby pointers and first-class instruction in craft skills and technical drawing. It became, overnight, a much more relaxed and pleasurable time. After I left school to take up my apprenticeship for Pilkington, I returned to see him a few times in the early 1970s and the welcome was always the same. He was always glad to see the lads he taught getting on in life and was always interested in your plans and prospects.

My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends. I am sure that all who ever came into contact with him during their schooldays will remember him with great respect. Great teachers and personalities don't come much better than he did. I am glad to have known him and he will be sadly missed.

David Hughes, Lakeside Gardens, Rainford.