Popular teacher dies at 42

Father-of-three Stephen Magee, of Linden Road, suffered a heart attack at home.

He taught English and media studies for seven years at Helenswood School, Hastings, and was well known on the music scene.

Stephen's wife Kate has paid tribute to her 'amazing, charismatic' husband.

"He had a passion for life and lived it to the full," said Kate.

"In everything he did, whether it was for work or family, he gave 100 per cent. There were no half measures. Steve was a fantastic teacher to so many people and loved by so many more. He was just an amazing man.

"His teaching style was to give pupils confidence in themselves and he really wanted the best for everyone.

"All through his life, right up to when he died, he was full of life and on top of the world.

You could write a whole book about his life and still not do him justice."

Originally from Belfast in Northern Ireland, Stephen and his wife Kate moved to Bexhill nine years ago after visiting and 'falling in love with the place'.

Before starting his teaching career at Cranbrook School, where he worked for a year, Stephen, was in the music business.

He worked as a manager, public relations officer and journalist, among other things. By the age of 24, he had secured 250,000 European funding to build a recording studio in Hulme, Manchester.

Stephen left Helenswood School at Christmas last year to take up a new post at Bennett Memorial School in Tunbridge Wells, and returned to the music business with the Hastings-based melodic-rock group Mumm-Ra, who were recently signed to a major record label.

A devoted Beatles fan, Stephen loved to read and had a particular fascination with the works of Shakespeare.

His sister Anna Elliot said: "Steve would rather read a train timetable than nothing at all. He also loved to write and had some of his poetry published.

"He was just a wonderful, loving, popular man. His death has been a great blow for many people."

Dozens of emotional sympathy cards have been received by the family from friends.

Stephen is survived by Kate and their children Anna, 9, Philip, 6, and Katherine, 2.

The funeral will take place on Monday and all friends are invited.