Obituary: Dennis Belford MBE, teacher

Loved ones said he would be remembered with "much affection", leaving a "big space" in their lives.

Frederick Dennis Rhind Belford was born in Edinburgh on 12 September 1924, the youngest of three brothers, attending the Capital's Gillespie Primary School and then George Heriot's.

He went on to join the RAF, training as a pilot and navigator and after the Second World War met his first wife Mary, going on to have three children together – Dennis, Johnny and Rona.

Mr Belford gained a BSc (Hons) in science from Edinburgh University, cementing a long-held interest in the subject as well as sparking a passion for dancing, through student ceilidhs.

Throughout his life he would continue to devote much time to both passions, as well as a variety of other interests, such as clock mending, drawing, jewellery making, gold panning, music and photography.

Loved ones said he was a truly gifted man, a great teacher, innovator, mechanical wizard and polymath.

Mr Belford's first teaching post was at Lasswade School, before he moved on to George Heriot's and then Musselburgh Grammar, where he was made head of biology.

Following a post with the Scottish Schools Science Equipment Research Centre he returned to his true passion of teaching as head of biology at Liberton High School.

Mr Belford was later invited to join the prestigious Linnean Society – the world's premier group for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history – following his efforts to reproduce one of the first ever microscopes.

It was through his love of dance that Mr Belford met his second wife Margaret Austen, marrying her on 29 July 1971, after being introduced through a small dance club where folk dances from other countries were taught.

At the club, he quickly became teacher and leader and was still involved in dances right up until his death.

Mr Belford was also part of the Edinburgh demonstration team for the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society; a member of the Society for International Folk Dancing; a dancer with the Edinburgh-based Polish National Folk group Ojczyzna; and attended international folk festivals.

In 1998 he was made an MBE for services to folk dancing and, despite having two hip replacements, remained an active dancer.

Loved ones said Mr Belford was known for his smile and humour and his "unusual" 3D Christmas cards were eagerly anticipated every year by friends and family – epitomising his talents as a gifted innovator.