Teacher; Born May 23, 1938; Died August 27, 2008. ALISTAIR MacLeod, who has died at the age of 70 after a courageous battle with cancer, was a teacher who devoted his very full life to three things: his faith, education and, above all, to his family.

Teacher; Born May 23, 1938; Died August 27, 2008.

ALISTAIR MacLeod, who has died at the age of 70 after a courageous battle with cancer, was a teacher who devoted his very full life to three things: his faith, education and, above all, to his family.

He was born into a Christian family in Dennistoun and this set the pattern for his entire life. After secondary education at Jordanhill College School, he achieved an MA in French and history at Glasgow University. He began his teaching career in 1961 at Airdrie Academy, being promoted as senior housemaster there before, after 13 years, moving to Caldervale High School in Airdrie as head of administration. In 1979 he became headteacher, a post he held until retiring in 1998.He was responsible for introducing rugby and operas to Airdrie Academy. Monklands Light Opera Company, of which he was honorary president, is a direct descendant of the operas he produced in the school.

Many of the letters received by his wife Fiona and the family have given personal details of the inspirational effect he had on so many people.

In 1994, he became a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in acknowledgement of his services to education. His devotion to his church, Broomknoll Parish Church in Airdrie, was complete and he worked tirelessly for both, to the end of his life - even when cancer was taking a huge toll on his body.

At the time of his death, he was chairman of the education committee, continuing his life-long interest in young people; he was also chairman of the nominating committee; he was a long-serving elder (ordained in 1973) and, as in education, his influence has permeated every area of his life in Broomknoll and its linked charge of Calderbank Parish Church.

MacLeod was a talented man who achieved success in everything he was interested in (which was just about everything). He took tremendous pleasure in helping at a friend's garage, using his considerable skills to repair cars. He even learned how to panel beat, spray paint and weld, indulging his life-long passion for all things mechanical.

He also had a great love for France - the country, the language and the wines - all of which were satisfied by the many holidays he enjoyed in his adopted second home. He was involved in many exchange visits between Caldervale High and the Lycee Georges Sand in La Chatre in the Indre department of France. These visits resulted in many family holidays to a gite in the heart of rural France, where he was totally relaxed and happy - he was never more so than in the company of his family, to whom he was totally devoted.

His was a life lived to the full. When he passed away so suddenly at the end, his beloved grand-daughter Caitlin stated with a wisdom well beyond her 12 years: "Papa has gone home to the very place he worked all his life to get to."

He is survived by his wife Fiona, his daughter Aileen, his son Stuart and his wife Karen and his grand-daughter Caitlin.