My friend, Danny Ridgeway, who has died suddenly aged 70, worked as a further education teacher for 32 years and was latterly an inspiring principal of Bexley College, in south London.

Under his leadership, from 2010 until 2016, improvements were made to the extent that by the time of his retirement Ofsted rated the college “good”; an immense achievement.

Danny was committed to improving opportunities for young people in London and made a lasting impression everywhere he worked. He brought warmth and humanity, caring deeply for the staff and students at the college.

He was born and raised on a Peabody estate in Chelsea, south-west London, the third son of Irish immigrants, Kay (nee O’Brien), a cleaner and tea lady, and Nicky, a plasterer. Danny attended the London Oratory school in West Brompton, and gained a degree in politics and economics and a master’s in political sociology from the University of Leeds.

He qualified as a further education teacher at Garnett College of Further Education in Roehampton and started his career in 1984 at Brixton College as an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teacher working principally with Vietnamese boat people. He went on to teach at Lambeth College and West Thames College before joining Bexley.

Danny travelled widely around the world with his wife, Penny (nee Allen), whom he met at Garnett and married in 1983. He had an eclectic taste in music, with his favourite band being the Who.

His wide circle of friends from across generations included many from Germany. He met a German student at Leeds in the 1970s and continued to visit Germany regularly, becoming a fluent German speaker.

Danny was a passionate Chelsea FC fan, having attended his first match in 1962 with his father. He was also a proud supporter of the Ireland rugby union team and the London Irish side.

He was one of the founders and organisers of Tippy Athletic FC, an amateur football club set up in memory of a friend’s son that plays in the South London League. Danny was a role model not only to his own sons but to many young men at Tippy Athletic and beyond.

From 2020 until his death, Danny served as a governor at Newham College. He will be remembered for his sharp intellect, strong socialist principles and a warm, generous spirit.

He is survived by Penny, their sons, Kieran, Joseph and Mathew, and five grandchildren, and by his younger brother, Terry.