A FAMILY has paid tribute to a well-known teacher and ‘old-school gentleman’ after his death earlier this month.

James Tabel moved to Cumbria, following his heart after he met his wife, Audrey, in August 1951.

The couple went on to spend nearly 60 years together until Audrey’s death in 2010.

A Scotsman by birth, Mr Tabel started a career in teaching that would see him spend three decades educating pupils in five Carlisle schools over his career.

Starting at Caldewgate Boy’s School, Mr Tabel progressed to Belah, Inglewood and Upperby schools before getting the headship at Newtown School in Carlisle.

His son, Simon, said: “Dad I think was a natural teacher and enjoyed his 30 years’ educating several generations of Carlisle’s children.”

He died on June 14 at the Penrith Hospital at the age of 91.

The keen Carlisle United fan became the President of the CSFA after many years refereeing, and was recognised with long-service awards by the national body the English Schools Football Association.

The family man with a love for jazz had two children, Alison and Simon, and later in life had six grandchildren.

During his funeral at Arthuret Church, Longtown, last Friday, Simon paid tribute to his father.

He said: “We will be eternally grateful for the happy lives and the love and support that he gave us all. Dad was a true gentleman of the ‘old school’ and we will all miss him greatly.”

In later life, Mr Tabel – Jim as he was known to those close to him ­– transferred his love of music when he worked as an organist in the church at Longtown.

Mr Tabel’s daughter, Alison Williams, said an article in our sister paper The Cumberland News featuring her father at the time that Caldew School was closed had shown the family just how respected and well liked her dad was.

She said: “There were hundreds of people who had written and said that they remembered him from their school days – it was really lovely.”