A “caring and protective” Labour candidate and former college lecturer has passed away after a short illness.

Dr Peter Jepson, 66, a former lecturer at Strode's College in Egham who stood as a Labour candidate in the Elmbridge Council elections, died on March 11.

Katrina Jepson, 60, his wife of 41 years, paid tribute to her Macclesfield-born husband, who left school at the age of 15 without any qualifications, but later in life completed a master’s degree and a law PhD.

She said: “He was good with his family, he cared for us. He was very protective of us and any problems he was always understanding.

“We’re going to really miss him. It’ll be really quiet without him.

“He liked to encourage his students and encourage other people. They wouldn’t have got where they were if it wasn’t for him and he was so proud of that.”

Mrs Jepson said that her husband had become ill in October and passed away earlier this month.

He had been a keen fan of the Beatles and Manchester United, as well as an avid commenter on community blog walton-on-thames.org, where fellow commenters also paid their tributes to the former law teacher.

One said: “I for one, have missed his presence here. A formidable knowledge and impressive intellect. A really great loss”.

Another added: “Love or dislike his many posts, Peter was always courteous and stimulated comment.

“He came across as a decent and very Christian man and will be missed. He was highly regarded as a college lecturer by his students.”

He is also survived by his daughter Janine, 39, and his three grandchildren.

A private family funeral will be held in Oldham on April 4.