Tributes have been paid to a former head teacher who taught Greek language to three generations of many families in Birmingham.
Christoforos Cartoudis, described by many ex pupils as a ‘legend’ died in February, aged 95.
During an incredible career, Mr Cartoudis taught thousands of pupils at the Greek Orthodox School of St Andreas in the Jewellery Quarter from 1961 and was responsible for establishing the school as a GCSE and A Level exam centre.
His tireless work was formally acknowledged in the Queen’s Honours list in 2014, when he was awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to education and the community.
During an incredible career, Mr Cartoudis taught thousands of pupils at the Greek Orthodox School of St Andreas in the Jewellery Quarter from 1961 and was responsible for establishing the school as a GCSE and A Level exam centre.
His tireless work was formally acknowledged in the Queen’s Honours list in 2014, when he was awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to education and the community.
Mr Cartoudis, a dad of one who lived in Castle Bromwich was born in Egypt in 1923 to a Greek Cypriot father and Greek mother.
Educated in Egypt, he served in the British Army during the Second World War and moved to the UK with his wife Areti and young daughter Mary in 1961.
They set up home in Birmingham where Mr Cartoudis worked as an accounts clerk, before becoming the chief accountant in a city centre stockbrokers.
Over 500 people filled the Greek Orthodox Cathedral for a special ceremony held to celebrate his achievements.
Now sadly hundreds are expected to pay their respects at his funeral at 11am on Tuesday, March 12 at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of Theotokos & Apostolos Andreas in Birmingham.