RUGBY international, teacher, cadet leader, councillor, community stalwart - Dave Wrench, who has died aged 81, was a man of many talents.

The youngest of three brothers, he was born in Winsford, Cheshire, where he attended the local primary school before winning a scholarship to Sandbach School, where he excelled at sport.

He was playing rugby for Wilmslow - later Winnington Park - by the age of 17 and also turned out at county level when a student at Leeds University, where he obtained a chemistry degree.

He then took an MA in education at Cambridge University, where he won a rugby blue as a much-feared prop.

Mr Wrench worked for a time for Procter and Gamble before going into teaching at Haberdashers' Aske's School, in Hertfordshire, playing rugby for Harlequins, where he was captain for a season, and going on a number of overseas tours.

He later played for Northampton and as well as representing the Barbarians made two appearances for England. In a 'fantasy' Cambridge team named by Phil de Glanville and Damian Hopley, he was selected as tight head prop.

Mr Wrench, who was married with three sons and a daughter, took up a teaching post at Taunton School in 1970, living first in Wellington and then Bradford-on-Tone.

He restarted the CCF at Taunton School and led an adventure training course every Easter.

He was a county and Taunton Deane councillor until 1992 and previously chairman of Wellington Town Council, starting a twinning link with Immenstadt, in Germany.

Tony Brown, of Wellington Town Council, said: "David was a great doer. Nothing put him off and he did a lot for Wellington."

Mr Wrench married Audrey in 1993 and the couple recently celebrated their 25th anniversary.

The couple retired to Durston, when he became involved with the Conservatives and was chairman of North Curry, although he was forced to give up politics due to ill health.

Mrs Wrench said: "David loved to get involved and helped build an extension to our village hall.

"He had a wonderful voice and loved school productions, his favourite being Guys and Dolls.

"He was much more than a teacher. He was a role model to his students to achieve the best standards in what they wanted to do and their abilities could achieve."