TRIBUTES were paid to a popular school mentor yesterday followingthe official opening of a memorial garden.Pupils at Methwold High School raised more than £1,000 in a day to pay for the new area to permanently remember respected Skill Force instructor John Bertenshaw.

TRIBUTES were paid to a popular school mentor yesterday following

the official opening of a memorial garden.

Pupils at Methwold High School raised more than £1,000 in a day to pay for the new area to permanently remember respected Skill Force instructor John Bertenshaw.

The 42-year-old, who was affectionately known as Bertie, died in July following a battle with cancer.

The instructor, from the charitable organisation run by ex-forces staff, worked

with Key Stage 4 students at Methwold, Wayland, Hammonds and Downham Market high schools to help boost motivation, confidence communication, leadership, and

life skills.

Staff and pupils gathered at Methwold High yesterday for the opening of the memorial garden, which was funded through a student car wash, auction and coffee morning.

Jake Edwards, head boy and a member of the Skill Force group said: “Bertie was such an amazing instructor. We all wanted to do something positive to remember him, so we completed both the fundraising and the actual garden pretty much independently.

“I think we would have made Bertie

very proud of the way we have all put to

good use the skills that Skill Force has taught us.

“Bertie will be sadly missed and he would be proud to see that the good work of Skill Force is continuing.”