A SERVICE is to be held in memory of former Royston school governor Dr Rex Walford, who has been missing since a boat capsized on the River Thames in earlier this year.

Dr Walford, who was a governor at Meridian School for 22 years, was aboard a boat when it upturned near Shepperton in Surrey on January 2.

Although four people survived, police called off the search for Dr Walford on January 10.

The service has now been scheduled for Wednesday February 16 at 3pm, at Ely Cathedral.

Dr Michael Firth, headteacher at Meridian, paid tribute to Dr Walford. He said: “Rarely in my life have I met anyone so inspirational – and he has shaped my career as a geography teacher and then as headteacher ever since.

“He became a governor of the school in 1988, as he considered Meridian to be a successful school he could believe in. He devoted his energies to us and did so for the next 22 years, finally retiring only last August.

“One of life’s optimists and enthusiasts, Rex brought intellect and common sense to any meeting. When he spoke, people wanted to listen – a rare quality. He had an extraordinary ‘knack’ of getting along with everyone and we will miss him dreadfully.”

Dr Walford was the head of education at Cambridge University during the 90s, was a president of the Geographical Association, vice-president of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of Royston Corvus Amateur Drama Society.

He was also chairman of Cambridge Drama Festival, and was well known as a writer, producer and musical director.