A POPULAR headteacher who taught generations of local school children has been honoured with a housing development renamed in his memory by the Mayor of Dudley.

Stan Grange served as headteacher of Mount Pleasant Junior School in Coseley from 1938 to 1967.

As a tribute the Victorian school building, which has recently been converted into sixteen homes, has been renamed Stanley Grange in his honour.

The Mayor of Dudley was joined by Stan’s daughter Valerie Pattinson and granddaughter Julie Pattinson as he unveiled a plaque to mark the renaming.

They were also joined by Honorary Alderman Melvyn Mottram, an ex-pupil who was instrumental in ensuring the building was named after Stan, alongside Dot Melbourne, a teacher who worked with him and former pupils Chris Marks and Paula Morris.

Councillor David Stanley, the Mayor of Dudley, said: "It was an honour to be meet members of Stan’s family today as well as his former colleague and ex-pupils as we acknowledged the contribution he made to the school and the surrounding community.

"From conversations we’ve had today, I got a sense of what Stan was like as a headmaster and how much he was respected by teachers and pupils alike. I’m pleased his name will be forever linked to the building for which he spent almost 30 years."

Stan's daughter, Valerie Pattinson, said: "My family and I are thrilled that my father’s role at Mount Pleasant Junior School will be forever remembered. He was incredibly proud to be the school’s headmaster and this is a fitting tribute."

Away from the classroom, Stan was a founder member of Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Club and was a keen amateur dramatist.