A COLLEGE community raised thousands of pounds in memory of a former teacher after more of a year of fundraising.

Steve Williams worked for 25 years at Richard Taunton Sixth Form College in 2015 before he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Now his friends and colleagues have paid tribute to the law, history and RS teacher by raising cash in his memory.

The team of teachers and staff took on the ABP Southampton 10k in honour of the avid runner who joined the college in Hill Lane in 1990.

It comes as part of a 20-month fundraising drive which has seen the college raise more than £2,500 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association since the 58-year-old dad-of-four from Bitterne was diagnosed with the life-threatening disease in September 2014.

Daily Echo: Steve Williams

Principal Alice Wrighton, her PA Jill Orton and deputy principal Dr Liz Lee took part in the city’s landmark running event along with teachers Alex Johnston, Sarah Richards, Mehrdad Nickbakhsh, Mason Newport, Alison Spottiswoode and Eamonn Keogh, his daughter Francesca Keogh, learning area managers Aine Rand and Amanda Humphries, learning support assistant Hilra Vinha and student service manager Mary O’Brien.

Ms Wrighton said: “Steve made a huge contribution to Taunton’s over the 25 years he worked here. He was an outstanding teacher of RS, law and history. I feel privileged that I knew him and worked with him.

“I would see him jogging in from the Common every morning, rain or shine, and I was always full of admiration. He was, quite simply, a lovely and remarkable human being.”

Cash raised by the team will go towards the charity’s work towards finding a cure while supporting those with motor neurone disease.