Tributes have been paid to Teifion Griffiths, who was headteacher of St Teilo’s Church in Wales High in Cardiff from 1983 to 2002.
The father of five died aged 83 at the University Hospital of Wales with his family around him.
Alex Dunphy, a friend and former head of Cardiff's Fitzalan High, said Teifion would be known for transforming lives. No pupils were excluded from St Teilo's during his two decades in charge.
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Brought up in the valleys in Gilfach Goch, Mr Giffiths moved with his family to London where his father and brothers ran the famous antiquarian bookshop, ‘’Griffs’’ off the Charing Cross Road.
A proud Welshman, Teifion was a Welsh speaker and part of the Welsh speaking, London Welsh community. He attended Marylebone Grammar school before going on to Aberystwyth University.
It was there that he met the love of his life Julia, his future wife.
Their son Tudor became a secondary headteacher in the north of England, Huw is a printer and publisher in Paris, Gareth an IT specialist and Harriet a primary school specialist. Their daughter Magdalen had special needs and sadly passed away shortly before Teifion in December.
Before university Teifion did national service and was assigned as a weapons training officer in the Ordnance Corps.
After teaching in Dagenham, Buckhurst Hill and Walthamstow he returned to Wales and was deputy head at St Teilo’s before becoming head.
Mr Dunphy said: "He was ahead of his time and believed in talking to and listening to pupils.
"No pupil was ever excluded from St Teilos and yet there was an orderly business-like atmosphere. Under his leadership Christian care underpinned the work of his staff and governors and pupils learnt to respect and work with each other."
Teifion worked closely with other Anglican and Catholic schools and was Chairman of The Anglican Headteachers of England and Wales and an active member of South Glamorgan and then Cardiff Headteachers Association. He was also active in the Welsh Secondary Schools Association.
After he retired he went back to teaching working in Woodlands special school in Cardiff for a time.
He worshiped in the Anglican churches in Roath and during lockdown sold many of his rare books from an unmanned table in front of his house where he left an honesty box for would be purchasers raising thousand pounds for his local church.
Remembering his friend and colleague Mr Dunphy said: "Everybody who came into contact with Teifion was enriched. He made a better life for everybody."
He is survived by four of his five children and his wife Julia.
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