A Shropshire teacher awarded £1.9 million compensation following a coach crash in France suffered such severe injuries they changed his personality, it was claimed today.

Gary Bishop’s solicitor said that although it was almost four years since the smash, the effects of his client’s injuries continue to have “a significant impact” on his life.

The 55-year-old, known as Max, saw his teaching career cut short after sustaining major head wounds in the accident in January, 2007.

Mr Bishop, from the Telford area, was among a party of more than 40 pupils, parents and staff involved in the crash in the French Alps in which the coach they were travelling in skidded on ice.

The father-of-two organised skiing trips for pupils at Shrewsbury’s Kingsland Grange School, now known as Shrewsbury High Prep School, where he was working as the head of IT.

Mr Justice Eady approved a £1.9 million settlement for Mr Bishop at the High Court in London on Wednesday.

The sum was claimed against the coach driver, David Levy, his employers, La Societe Autocars Bonnaffoux Bremond, and insurers Generalli Assurance.

Mr Bishop’s solicitor, Neil Lorimer, of Shropshire firm Lanyon Bowdler, said it was a substantial award which had been carefully calculated to meet his client’s “extensive needs” now and for the rest of his life.

Mr Lorimer said: “He sustained a serious brain injury and was in a critical condition in hospital in Grenoble before being flown back to the Princess Royal Hospital.

He said: “He suffered bruising and bleeding of the brain and required neurosurgery, plus a fracture of the skull. He suffers from headaches, dizziness, loss of smell and taste, deafness of the right ear and loss of balance.

“He has suffered a change of personality and the effects of his injuries continue to have a significant impact on his day to day life.”

Lanyon Bowdler acted for 24 claimants from the crash. The majority sustained minor to moderate physical and psychiatric injuries.

All cases were eventually settled out of court with Mr Bishop’s the last to be resol-ved. A total of £2,125,250.00 in damages was awarded.

By Simon Hardy