Tributes have been paid to Reverend John Jenkins, the popular former chaplain of Royal Masonic School for Girls, who died earlier this month.

Rev Jenkins retired in 2010 after 26 years of teaching, six of which were spent at the Rickmansworth girls’ boarding school.

After retiring, he kept in touch with many of his former colleagues and friends and regularly returned to the school for events.

Sadly, he died unexpectedly on June 12.

The proud Welshman is remembered by former colleagues for his smile, his deeply held faith and his passion for rugby, which saw him send a card through after a Welsh victory over England, the last of which simply read “Wales 30 England 3 Feed me now and ever more”.

Royal Masonic headmistress Diana Rose led the tributes, saying: “There are some people whom it is simply impossible to remember except with a smile: John Jenkins was one of these.

“A smile of warm respect for a man so honest in his manner and so sincere in his convictions.

“John quite properly reached out to those of all faiths and of none - but without sacrificing a jot of his profoundly-held Christian convictions.

“As some consolation for our shock and sadness at the loss of a colleague and friend, a smile of gratitude for a life well and generously lived for the sake of others.”

Freddy Grogan, head of history and politics at the school, described him as “a warm, considerate, generous colleague and a good friend to many of us on the staff”.

He added: “He made a real effort to keep in touch [with] regular postcards of his many travels although no emails - he didn't do technology.

“He will be greatly missed by many of us.”