Former Magdalen College School chemistry teacher Duncan Smith MBE has died aged 67.

He attended private Dulwich College in South London on a scholarship and then studied at Jesus College, Oxford, staying at the university to take his postgraduate certificate in education. He joined Magdalen College School (MSC) in 1968.

Mr Smith was also a major in Oxford’s Territorial Army, for which he was honoured with an MBE in 1989 along with his work for the school’s Combined Cadet Force.

Colleague Chris Byrne, who joined the chemistry department in 1972, said: “Duncan was always prepared to have a go and was invariably among the first to volunteer when some area of school life was in need of extra or stand-in manpower.”

Mr Smith also coached and refereed school rugby teams and also helped cricket and tennis teams and the rifle club.

Mr Byrne said Mr Smith had an “enduring passion” for the Ministry of Defence’s Combined Cadet Force at the school.

Mr Smith was a tutor and later housemaster at Callender and was also joint head of careers.

He retired in 2001 but would occasionally return to help give careers aptitude tests and worked with the Morrisby Organisation, which provides career assessment systems.

Mr Smith, who had diabetes, died after a long period of ill health on September 18.

He never married and did not have any children.

A funeral service will be held at Oxford Crematorium tomorrow at 12.15pm. All are welcome.