A former Pembrokeshire teacher has been singled out for national praise. The Guardian newspaper last week featured an article in which a host of British personalities were asked to recall their most inspirational teacher.

Included was award-winning novelist Sarah Waters, who named Ed Tanguay, who taught her A-level art in Milford Grammar School during the early 1980s.

“He was a brilliant guy, inspiring me in the best possible way,” wrote Sarah, who grew up in Neyland.

“He had all sorts of technical expertise and was good at passing it on, and he encouraged us to think.”

She praised his innovative approach and described him as “a bit of an iconoclast”. She also recalled the day he turned up to teach having forgotten his tie.

“He got us to make him one out of painted cardboard. He was everything a good teacher should be, stern at times but good natured, clever, creative and fun.”

Mr Tanguay taught at the grammar school from 1981-1990 before spending 17 years at Pembrokeshire College, where he set up and maintained the centre’s art department.

He described Sarah as a “bright and gifted’ pupil.

“I have always kept in e-mail contact with her and read her novels,” he said.

Sarah, who studied English at Kent University, is best known for her novels set in Victorian times.