TRIBUTES have poured in following the death of a "visionary" head teacher of a Lesotho school which the town has been supporting.

Members of the Penarth and District Lesotho Trust (PADLT) received the "sudden and extremely sad" news that Godfrey Kakande, of TY junior school, had passed away on Monday, July 6.

Godfrey, who leaves his wife Sarah and four-month-old baby daughter Constancea, was involved in a car crash in January this year and has struggled with health issues since that incident.

The staff intend for the school to continue and PADLT say they will offer as much support to them as possible.

In the homily which began the sad meeting of PADLT earlier this week, Canon Peter Cox shared words which described the man including a leader, trustworthy, a teacher, a guest, a visitor, a fundraiser, a visionary and a man full of laughter but most of all a friend.

Godfrey played international football as a goalkeeper for Uganda and scored a winning penalty in a World Cup qualifier. He became a football coach and a local teacher upon his retirement from playing but when he had tried to help a group of orphans he was told he could not and resigned to open his own school for orphans.

Members of Penarth Council of Churches met Godfrey on a visit to the Lesotho capital Maseru and decided to help his struggling school.

The project from Cytun eventually became the PADLT with members from inside and outside the churches.

After the school received the blow of being thrown out of its building, Godfrey, the charity and the Penarth community managed to help turn a barren site into a thriving new school.

In a letter to the Penarth Times this week (page 14), Lesley Cox, chairman of PADLT, said: "We pray for his wife, Sarah and his baby daughter Constancea as they face a future without him. He did so much for many orphaned children and had only four months with his own child."

Stephen Doughty MP - patron of Penarth and District Lesotho Trust - said: “This is devastating news – of course for Godfrey’s family and friends, and the children and staff at TY Junior Academy, but also for everyone involved in PADLT and all those people who have helped raise money over the years.

“Godfrey was an inspirational man. TY Junior Academy was a labour of love for him, and he was absolutely dedicated to the children.

“Penarth people of all ages took his cause to their hearts, and I’m sure will share in the deep sadness that everyone at PADLT is feeling.”

Countless visits have been made by PADLT members, Penarth teachers, college groups and the PADLT Youth who have made a biennial visit to TY.

These trips have been described as "life changing" and "inspiring" by those who undertook them.

Keith Howells, a trustee of PDLT, said: "It was difficult to comprehend that this amazing, charismatic, enthusiast of seemingly limitless energy was no longer with us.

"But as we remember Godfrey with tears in our eyes and with aching hearts the PADLT group know that this work must go on.

"The legacy of Godfrey Kakande, to Lesotho and to African education must not now be forgotten. The TY Junior Academy success story must go on."

The charity sends its deepest sympathies to Godfrey's family.