William Kennedy DFC, MA, former school rector; born September 4, 1920, died January 17, 1998

William Kennedy, who has died at the age of 77, was a major figure in secondary education in Scotland and also had a distinguished war record. He was born in Greenock, the second son of a pit electrician, but the family moved to Fallin in Stirlingshire and, after attending Stirling High School, he joined the Post Office, working initially as a sorting clerk and later as a trainee telegraphist.

With the outbreak of war he volunteered for service with the Royal Air Force and began his training as a wireless operator/air gunner, flying as part of a three-man crew of a Blenheim light bomber. He later transferred to No 49 Squadron, flying Lancasters from RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire.

During this period he was promoted to the rank of Flight-Lieutenant and flew two tours of operations over Germany as a rear gunner, the notorious ''Tail-end Charlie'' whose vigilance provided the aircraft and crew with its only defence against the constant threat from enemy night fighters.

At a time when the life expectancy of the average Lancaster crew might be counted in days, he remained in the thick of the action and somehow survived, being awarded the DFC for his conduct.

In addition to flying he acted as an air gunnery instructor, teaching Australian bomber crews.

When peace returned, he took advantage of the grants available to ex-servicemen and began studying English and History at Edinburgh University. It was there that he met his future wife, Elsa, with whom he went on to teacher-training at Moray House College of Education.

For over 10 years he taught in schools throughout Stirlingshire and, in 1964, he became rector of Woodlands Junior Secondary in Falkirk. He transformed it into a viable fifth-year school, presenting pupils for SCE Highers, which it had never previously done.

In 1973 he became rector of Balfron High School, at that time a school of poor reputation which was regarded as having fallen on hard times. In the ensuing years he employed his wealth of experience in secondary education to effect a complete turnaround and, under his leadership, the school achieved a fine academic reputation.

In 1981 ill health forced his retirement, but he continued to follow his great loves of English and poetry through the works of Shakespeare and, particularly, Robert Burns, on whose works he was an authority.

William Kennedy was pre-deceased by his wife but is survived by three daughters and two sons.