As a friend and former colleague I wish to pay tribute to Stuart Blair, whose recent and untimely death has shocked all those who knew him.

I first met Stuart in 1992 when he was appointed as head of department at Weymouth College. During the period leading up to my retirement in July 2002, Stuart was a member of my senior management team, with cross-college management responsibilities as well as those for his Department of Business, Care and Catering Studies.

He was well qualified academically and professionally and had wide experience and expertise in all aspects of teaching/learning, student services, course and curriculum development and management.

During college re-structuring and re-organisation over a period of several years, Stuart played a major role in managing change, and was particularly successful in handling difficult staffing situations involving redeployment and redundancy.

He was responsible for the relocation of his department from Newstead Road to the new buildings at Cranford Avenue, particularly with regard to the training kitchens and the Cygnet Restaurant.

His calm, modest and responsible attitude helped to reduce the traumas that occurred for some of his staff and earned him tremendous respect from them.

For all the time I knew him, Stuart acted in a professional and responsible manner, maintaining respect for others and exercising total self-control for himself.

Even in difficult and complex emotional situations he was empathetic to others and sympathetic to their points of view.

His approach was always conciliatory, not confrontational, never wanting to succeed at the expense of others.

I never had cause to doubt his honesty and integrity. He could be trusted to carry out the duties of his job willingly and with competence.

Stuart was always helpful and loyal, never acting on impulse but always with responsibility and restraint. His colleagues will remember him for his professional expertise as well as the epitome of the perfect gentleman. He is sadly missed.

Malcolm Jacobs, Acting Principal (retired), Weymouth College.