A HIGHLY-REGARDED teacher who surprised everyone at a public school with the expert way he switched from one subject to another has died at the age of 93.

Stanley Hardisty was head of geography before teaching himself biology and changing over to conduct classes in that subject to the same high level at Barnard Castle School.

Friend and colleague Alan Wilkinson said yesterday: "He was a top-class geography teacher, but when he decided to switch to biology he learned all about the subject on his own and then taught it extremely well.

"It was remarkable that he could teach himself the subject fairly quickly and was then able to pass on his knowledge to the most senior pupils in an accomplished manner."

He saud that Mr Hardisty was a kind man who was popular with all the staff and pupils.

He was housemaster of two different houses as well as being a Scout master, stage manager for school productions and an authority on the countryside.

Mr Hardisty was at the school from 1946 until he retired in 1975.

He took over the biology post from Bentley Beetham, who was part of the 1924 Everest expedition.

Mr Hardisty was a bachelor who lived in Startforth, Barnard Castle. He studied at Oxford University before starting his teaching career at Saltburn, east Cleveland.

Mr Wilkinson will give an address about Mr Hardisty at his funeral service in Startforth Parish Church next Tuesday, at 11am.