Former Stourbridge teacher stripped of MBE (From Stourbridge News)

Former Stourbridge teacher stripped of MBE

11:51am Monday 4th March 2013 in News

FORMER Stourbridge science teacher Dave Russon has been stripped of his MBE following allegations of inappropriate behaviour while teaching at Ridgewood High School.

Mr Russon, a teacher of legendary status at Ridgewood and before that Longlands, was awarded the honour for services to education back in June 2001.

But the prestigious accolade, presented to him by The Queen, has been taken away by the Cabinet Office's Honours Forfeiture Committee.

A Cabinet Office source said the honour was annulled following “allegations of inappropriate behaviour while at Ridgewood High School”.

The news, announced in the London Gazette on February 26, follows a Teaching Agency professional conduct panel decision made in June last year banning Mr Russon from teaching in schools, sixth form colleges, youth accommodation or children’s homes in England.

The Cabinet Office source added: “The Forfeiture Committee is committed to upholding the integrity of the UK Honours system.”

Mr Russon, aged 67, from Dudley, taught science at the old Longlands Secondary Modern School in Brook Street and he moved to Ridgewood High School in Park Road West, Wollaston, when the schools merged in 1990.

He also taught hundreds of Dudley youngsters to swim over the years and used to run annual pony trekking trips to The Gower, Wales, during school holidays.