A Shropshire man who taught at several county schools and “touched the lives of everyone he met” has died just days after his 40th birthday.

Mark Hardman, of Randlay, Telford, who was described as an inspiration by his wife, Nikki, lost his fight for life at the town’s Princess Royal Hospital on January 29.

The Broseley-born teacher studied for a physics degree at Warwick University after attending Ironbridge & Coalbrookdale Primary School and Abraham Darby School. 

His first teaching job after completing a postgraduate certificate in education was at Adams School in Wem, where he was made head of physics. 

Mr Hardman gave up his job when he became ill with pneumonia. 

But, after recovering, Mr Hardman, who was the grandson of the late Sir Fred Hardman, a Conservative trade unionist and member of the Telford Development Corporation board, and his wife Ennis, taught physics at Belvidere School, Shrewsbury before moving to New College in Telford. Mr Hardman, who loved cars, then spent seven years teaching at Idsall School in Shifnal.

Mrs Hardman, 39, said they were still waiting for the outcome of tests to find out how he had died.

She said hundreds of tributes had been made on the social networking website, Facebook, by pupils and staff who knew him.

“They are saying what a legend he was and an inspiration to all of them. Lots of them have gone on to do science. He was the reason for them doing it,” she said.

Mrs Hardman said a life-changing experience for him was taking part in Dreams and Teams in March 2007, which was partly sponsored by the Youth Sports Trust and the British Council and allowed him to teach in Cameroon.

Mr Hardman left Idsall and went part-time to work with his wife, a headteacher at Berrybrook Primary School in The Scotlands, Wolverhampton.

He also supported another school, Ettingshall Primary School, Wolverhampton, working as a special needs coordinator. Mrs Hardman said her husband also worked at the Berry Children’s Centre where he “did a wonderful job supporting families who maybe didn’t have the best life chances and children in difficult circumstances”.

She said: “Everybody within the local authority thought he was a trail-blazer. He was a perfectionist about his work.”

Mrs Hardman also found out days ago he had got a distinction after working towards a national accreditation for a special needs coordinator. His funeral is at Telford Crematorium on February 12 at 2.30pm. No flowers have been requested with any donations going to the Youth Sports Trust.

By Lisa Rowley