A former school teacher who taught British actor Oliver Reed has died at the age of 86.

Geoff Coles, from Green Lane in Worcester Park, taught at Ewell Castle School in Church Street, for more than 40 years before retiring in 1992.

A former pupil at the school, Mr Coles joined the army but returned to the school as games master and maths teacher where he taught former pupil, British actor Oliver Reed, who he had remained in touch with.

Mr Coles was described by his former colleage, Michael Barrel, as a jazz enthusiast who spent most of his time ‘tinkering with motorbikes’ and who loved to play squash.

So much so he broke the Guinness World record in the early 70s completing a 47 hour squash marathon.

Mr Barrell, 71, and a former PE teacher at Ewell Castle School who knew Mr Coles for nearly 40 years, said: "He was one of those teachers who was always doing things and was very much keen on everything to do with life.

"He was a very keen jazz man and keen to go to places where jazz was being played in Sutton, Putney and around London.

"He would often go to the Secombe Theatre in Sutton on a Sunday and was often found in the Hunstman which is the pub just up the road in Worcester Park. But his main interest was the Ebbisham Squash Club in Epsom."

Mr Coles was part of the coaching team which led the Ewell Castle School team all the way to the nationals in 1990 with their first team missing out on becoming national champions by one game to Millfield.

Friends, family and colleagues gathered at Randall’s Park cemetery on Thursday, February 2 for Mr Cole’s funeral which began with a recording of Harlem Air Shaft by Duke Ellington and his Orchestra - a testament to his love of jazz.

Mr Barrell added: "It was a really good turnout of more than 100 people all together. It was lovely to see all his colleagues and friends.

"What struck me was the number of former staff who turned up and that was very noticeable. They were there to say their last farewell."