FORMER headteacher of Glusburn School David Clough has been the first person to be posthumously awarded a Doctorate of Education from Leeds University.

David, 55, of Skipton, was just tying up the ends of his thesis when, in May 1998, he had a stroke.

He was thought to be making a good recovery but died of a heart attack in December 1998.

His professor, Roger Hartley, did not want to see his work go to waste and pulled all the loose ends together to meet university regulations before handing it in.

Mr Clough's widow, Pam, will receive the doctorate today (Friday) from Melvyn Bragg.

She said: "I am very pleased, David had spent the last few years of his life working hard on it."

It had taken Mr Clough about five years to near completion of his thesis whilst at the same time fulfilling his role as head of Glusburn School, a post he had held for 11 years.

Before the presentation at Leeds University, there will be a short speech to explain why Mrs Clough is receiving the award on behalf of her husband.

A spokesman for the university said it was rare to award posthumous degrees and this was the first posthumous doctorate of education to be presented.

The late Mr Clough's sons Hamish, 32, and Alastair, 28, will also be at the ceremony to see the presentation.

Mrs Clough said: "They are both very pleased they think it is well deserved. He put so much time and enthusiasm into it. It would have been a pity if it had all been for nothing. I think he would have been pleased."

Present headteacher of Glusburn School Val Ashdown said: "We are all very pleased that the award has been made because David worked very hard for it."

She added that the school was striving to continue the good work that Mr Clough had started there.

He went to the school as headteacher in April 1987, 38 years to the day since he was admitted to the school as an infant pupil. He also taught at the Parish Church School, Skipton, in Barnoldswick and at Carleton.

He was a much-loved headteacher and steered Glusburn School through immense changes, including the implementation and development of the national curriculum.

His interest in information technology meant he led Glusburn to the forefront of the computer age, and he founded the Friends of Glusburn School to form closer relationships between the school and parents.

An Ofsted report described him as a "purposeful and energetic headteacher who is accessible to all and well informed".

He was also a founder member of the Skipton and Craven Rotary Club.

Since his death the David Clough Foundation has been set up in his memory with people from Holland and South Craven working together to allow young people to go on work experience exchange programmes.