Robert Potts, who was known to everyone as Bob, died in the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, after a short illness on April 9.

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne on November 1 1929, Bob was brought up in Thornley, County Durham with his sister, Jean and brother Arthur.

He attended Wellfield AJ Dawson Secondary School, and after National Service studied to be a teacher at Westminster College in London.

His first teaching job was in Wallington, Surrey, where he married, and had three children: Steve, Don and Chris.

In 1962 Bob accepted the job as head of Religious Studies at Harraby Secondary School and the family moved to Brampton the following year.

Bob remained in Brampton for the rest of his life where he was well known for his involvement in many local activities.

He was a member of Irthing Vale Cricket Club for many years and was an original member of Brampton Bridge Club.

Later he joined the Queens Cricket Club and was still playing for them when he was over 60.

From early on in his teaching career Bob was fully involved in the National Union of Teachers.

He was Chairman of the National Young Teachers Conference in Birmingham in 1960, and rose through the ranks of the Carlisle Association to become its president in 1970, and then President of the Cumbria Division in 1984.

In 1980 he was elected to the National Executive of the union where he became the vice-chairman of the finance and general purposes committee in 1984.

On his retirement in 1989 he worked part-time for the North East regional office of the union in Chester-le-Street.

Bob was a keen sportsman and enjoyed watching cricket at Durham, where he was a member, as well as rugby union.

He was part of the Radio Carlisle rugby commentary team.

He remained a Newcastle supporter for all his life.

Bob is survived by his sons Steve and Don as well as his daughter Chris, and his grandchildren Michael, Carolyn, Martin, Richard, James, Sebastian, Andrew, Sophie and Jonny, and his great grandson Samuel.