Ricky (Richard) Skelding worked as headteacher at Donibristle Primary from 1997 for around 13 years until his retirement.
He had previously worked at several schools including Kelty Primary where he was depute headteacher.
After taking retirement, he continued to work with youngsters through the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust and was involved in coaching athletics.
He delivered Run Jump and Throw classes at Pitreavie which resulted in the development of a thriving programme which eventually offered up to eight classes a week with 20 to 30 children taking part every week.
Ricky Skelding with wife Linda and family. (Image: Contributed) Scottish Athletics was so impressed by Ricky’s work that they asked him to write a blueprint for the program which resulted in other RJT classes across Scotland being able to follow the same successful model.
The dad of four, who lived in Dunfermline, also worked closely with the Dunfermline and West Fife Sports Council, organising annual competitions for local schools. This would see him visiting schools to teach the children the fitness skills necessary for participating in eight different events.
The sessions culminated in a large competition/festival, bringing schools from all over Scotland to compete.
His work resulted in him receiving an award from the Sports Council for his contributions to sport and being asked to carry the Commonwealth Games torch through Dalgety Bay, something which he was immensely proud of.
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Wife Linda said the family – the couple have four sons, Mike, Paul, Greg and Fraser, and three grandchildren – were overwhelmed with the amount of cards and messages received since Ricky’s death on January 7.
“The amount of messages I am getting, people calling him a legend, teachers who he inspired,” she said.
“People who he has inspired them who say they wouldn’t have gone into leadership had it not been for him and he gave them the opportunities to do so.”
Ricky Skelding carrying the Commonwealth Games torch through Dalgety Bay. (Image: Contributed) Linda said her husband, a huge football fan and Dundee United season ticket holder, was keen to see the children he taught thrive.
“He wanted the best for the kids and the best opportunities for them,” she said. “He was passionate about sport and took them to every competition going and got them all the sports gears. He was passionate about doing well in sports.
“His philosophy was not all children are academic and he wanted to get the best out of them.
“He was chosen to carry the Commonwealth torch. It was just by pure luck or chance that he got chosen to do the stretch in Dalgety Bay. It was brilliant. It was his proudest moment.
“All the school kids came out to see it although he had retired, the school brought all the kids down. He had been out for three years but the school still brought their children out, the parents all turned up too. He was very very proud.”
While passionate about his job, Linda said his primary love was his family.
She continued: “Family was everything to Ricky. He was fiercely protective and immensely proud. He was just so loving, caring and kind.
“We have four boys. He was immensely proud. He bragged about them to anybody that would listen. He told everyone the stories of their achievements.
“He was very generous with his time and his love. He would help anybody. If anybody needed anything, he would be there.
“He loved laughter and loved to have fun and that is one of the things every single person is saying. He was funny and he loved laughing. He loved to make people laugh.”
A funeral service for Ricky will take place at the Dunfermline Crematorium on Tuesday, January 21 at 2.45pm.