YELLOW balloons and the sound of applause filled the early morning sky as tributes were paid to a headteacher who turned around the fortunes of a Slough school.

All staff and pupils at The Westgate School wore Marie Curie Cancer Care daffodils on Friday last week as the entire school paid tribute to legendary headteacher Roger Thomas. He died at his home in Wales, aged 61, in November last year from a suspected heart attack.

Just before 11am, 200 yellow balloons were released into the sky and a minute’s silence was eschewed in favour of a minute of applause and cheering. The food technology department of the Cippenham Lane school - which also donated £250 to Marie Curie Cancer Care - had also baked 1,600 Welsh cakes for the occasion.

Mr Thomas retired from his role at the school in 2013, after joining in 1997. He turned the school from barely satisfactory to rated as outstanding by Ofsted. In 2012, he won the Pearson Lifetime Achievement Award for the South East.

His inspiring work was eulogised on the day by Darren Nicholas, headteacher, and Slough MP Fiona Mactaggart, who both shared their memories of Mr Thomas.

The evening before, the school held a quiz in his memory, which was attended by his wife Ann, son Andrew and daughter Hannah. The quiz was based on Mr Thomas, The Westgate School and all things Wales and rugby - Mr Thomas was a proud, patriotic Welshman.

More than 100 people took part in the quiz and a raffle, raising £1,400 for Asthma UK - a charity close to Mr Thomas’ heart.

Debbie Hore, senior assistant headteacher at the school who organised the events, said: “It was a quiz with a difference! We wanted a celebration rather than a sombre mourning and I think the family really appreciated that.

“Both days were a very fitting tribute. Everyone was saying if Roger was here he would have loved it or 'he would be saying this’. It was like he was here with us through it all, he was always with us. There were a lot of tears, but of affection rather than grief.” Earlier the same day, a glass plaque was installed at the entrance to the school. The plaque was designed by pupils and Kirsty Brooks, an architectural glass artist from Maidenhead. Mr Thomas had also served as deputy headteacher at Furze Platt Senior School.

The plaque is emblazoned with a Welsh dragon and the phrase 'Be Your Best’ ensuring Mr Thomas’ legacy will never be forgotten.