Young Wigan singer's touching tribute to popular former head teacher

Mr Halford, who took the Carr Lane school to the top of the Wigan GCSE league table and served as chief executive officer of the Rowan Learning Trust, died last week aged just 60 following a battle with motor neurone disease.

Salford University music student Saffron, 19, heard the news and decided to pay her own tribute.

The song from the Broadway smash hit stage show is one of those she returned to Hawkley Hall to perform at Mr Halford's retirement event in May 2018.

She spoke of the enormous impact Mr Halford had in education and how he helped to ensure pupils gained the best start in life.

Saffron, from Goose Green, said: "My music teacher at Hawkley asked me to come back when I was at college and sing at his retirement. It was in the sports hall at Hawkley. For Good is one of the songs I sang,

"He came up to me afterwards, thanked me for coming and said he really appreciated it. It was a lovely little gesture.

"I was shocked and gutted by the news of his death, it was such a shame. He had a massive impact on a lot of people, students and staff.

"He was an absolutely brilliant head teacher and really brought the school up.

"He always had time to talk to everyone and knew everybody's names. He was just a lovely man."

Saffron left Hawkley Hall High School in 2017 and is hoping to become a music teacher after she has finished her studies.