Keith McPhee, the former head teacher at Saltus Grammar School, has died in the UK at the age of 83.

Mr McPhee served as head teacher at the private school for more than 15 years before retiring in 1995 and moving to France with his wife.

He later returned to the island, where two of his sons live with his family, but recently left to return to the UK.

Mr McPhee was born in the North-East of England, and attended the University of Durham. He was a keen rugby player and played for their varsity rugby team.

He later taught at St Andrews’s School in Nassau, attaining the position of Deputy Head before coming to Saltus.

While at Saltus, Mr McPhee led several projects, including the beginning of the school’s computer programme, construction of the school’s swimming pool, the creation of additional science rooms in the Secondary Department, an arts and music block in the Upper Primary school and extensive renovations of the Cavendish campus.

He was also at the helm when the school became co-ed, ending its more than 100 years as an all-boys school.

Ted Staunton, the head of school, noted the significant change for the school, saying: “He stood firm on the decision and September 1991 saw Saltus become a co-ed school.

“Mr McPhee was proud of the success of this decision, a decision that saw more girls than boys in last year’s graduating class.

“In his retirement he was a frequent visitor to the campus, and his presence around the school will be missed. The school’s thoughts and prayers are with his family.”