AFTER years of all hands on deck, a touching tribute to a much loved Malvern teacher has been handed over to the town's cadets group.

Students of The Chase High School have rallied together to finish work on The Derek Lang- a memorial boat in memory of the much loved teacher.

Everyone connected with the school was devastated when Mr Lang died of a heart attack during the February half-term of 2012.

Good friend and colleague Christopher Bell came up with the idea of a boat to pay tribute to Mr Lang, who was head of business and economics, as the pair are both ex seafarers, and spearheaded the build.

Mr Lang used to be in the Royal Navy.

Mr Bell, who found his friend after growing concerned of his absence from school and borrowed a bus to travel to his home, said: "Derek was my line manager, but he was also a good friend who could make me laugh. As we were both ex-seafarers we had a lot in common.

"After the February half-term Derek didn't show for work.

"I was very concerned and in a planning session I borrowed a school minibus to check if he was alright. That's where I found him.

"I always though better a friend find him than a stranger. It gave him dignity.

"I slightly modified the design by adding buoyancy tanks fore and aft with a lovely mixed cedar strip planking on deck.

"It's great to be able to hand the boat over and know it's finished. His family are happy with its new home and it will provide years of experience for the unit."

The Derek Lang was handed over by Mr Bell, a former merchant Navy captain to T S Revenge Malvern Maritime Cadets.

It has personal touches to Mr Lang in the shape of a treble clef, as he was a huge music fan, and memorial plaque which was made by the school's Design and Technology department.

The project cost around £1,500 and was funded by cash donations from Malvern Hills District Council, The Friends of The Chase High School, the town's Waitrose store and Mr Lang's family.

It was built in 2014, but stored at the school until a new home was found for it.