25 July 2012 Last updated at 07:55 ET

Pennar school head Meyrick Rowlands dies days after retiring

Meyrick Rowlands, 60, retired from Pennar Community School last week and died on Tuesday

A headteacher has collapsed and died suddenly just four days after retiring.

Meyrick Rowlands, 60, stood down from Pennar Community School, Pembroke Dock, on Friday, and died while playing cricket on Tuesday.

Mr Rowlands, a former Wales international cricketer, was taking part in the Alec Colley Cup cricket semi-final match.

School governor Martin Cavaney paid tribute to Mr Rowlands and said the school was "deeply shocked".

Mr Rowlands was playing for Whitland's second XI against their Carew counterparts at Hook when he collapsed and the game was abandoned.

Mr Cavaney said: "I've known Meyrick for 40 years, we went to grammar school together.

"He was very much a family man. He was very ordinary and very nice man - all the kids loved him."

Mr Rowlands was a former pupil of Pennar Community School and became headmaster there 10 years ago.

"He was a great sportsman and cricket was his great passion. He was a young 60, he looked young and he was very fit.

"The whole school is deeply shocked and saddened by this terrible tragedy."

Pupils and staff marked Mr Rowlands's retirement with a special assembly last Thursday and they all waved him off at the school gates on Friday.

A letter has been sent to parents informing them of Mr Rowlands's death.

"Our hearts reach out to his family, his wife Angela, son Daniel and daughter Lisa, at this sad time," Mr Cavaney said.