Home Page Haverhill News

A MAN remembered as “a kind and gentle” teacher has died, two years after a brutal attack left him severely disabled.

Tim Rendell’s life was mined by a thug who struck him down as he cycled home through Cambridge, after spending the evening with friends.
Police are now reexamining the case to see whether his attacker, Benjamin Wilson, who was last year jailed for 12 years for grievous bodily harm, should face a murder charge.

The attack left Mr Rendell, who was 47 and head of science at Hedingham School, near Haverhill, with serious Brain Damage.

He was unable to talk or move and could only eat via a stomach tube.

His sister, Lsobel Abulhoul, who regularly flew to Cambridge from her Dubai home to be by his bedside, said “He was a kind and generous man.

“Tim loved people and he loved teaching. His demands on life were small, he enjoyed music, food and a pint with friends.”

She added: “He was an optimistic person but I think he had begun to comprehend how completely hopeless his situation was.

“He was alive, but it was not the sort of life anyone would want to live.”
Mrs Abulhoul praised staff at the Sue Ryder care home in Ely where her brother was looked after.

Susan Anderson, headteacher of Hedingham School, said: “He was popular and he loved children.

“He was colourful and larger than life, with an ability always to see the other person’s point of view.

“Tim was in his prime and seeing him after the attack was very painful.

“Some of his students had carried on visiting him despite going away to university. He was well-loved.”

Mr Rendell died on September 29.

CAPTION: Tim Rendell, left, suffered serious damage during the attack by Benjamin Wilson.