The school teacher who became a parachute tester

Charles Agate (right) became a prolific parachute tester during World War Two

Teacher Charles Agate was known as a "remarkable man" by his former pupils – yet none knew him as the daring paratrooper who was instrumental in developing parachutes during World War Two.

Mr Agate was described as an eccentric character who was known to cancel lessons to play on the school field.

But behind his ordinary life in Merstham, Surrey, was an extraordinary story including an Air Force Cross medal, a place in the Guinness Book of Records and jumping out of a plane more than 1,600 times.

Andrew Colley, a former pupil of Mr Agate's and co-author of The Man Who Tested Parachutes, said: "There were rumours about his war record but he would never talk about it."

He added: "I remember receiving a copy of the Guinness Book of Records as a child and seeing Mr Agate's name.

"He was a remarkable man – to us he just wanted children to have fun."

Born in Redhill in 1905, Mr Agate won a scholarship to Reigate Grammar School and began his life as a PE teacher before volunteering for the RAF in 1940.

But after a year, and not satisfied with a role confined to the ground, he answered an advert to join a new team of paratroopers, joining up at RAF Ringway in Cheshire.

It was there that he helped to test parachutes, including jumping out of planes with sandbags attached to his legs to test the effect heavy equipment would have.

It was in this role where, having jumped sometimes 16 times a day, Mr Agate completed 1,601 parachute test jumps – earning him his spot in the record books.

John Neil, co-author of the book, said: "He became one of the leading parachute instructors at Ringway.

"One of the most striking things is that many of the techniques tested are still used today."

Charles (front right) testing parachutes alongside fellow paratroopers

Having trained commandos and even dogs to jump behind enemy lines, playing a pivotal role in the D-Day invasions, Mr Agate was awarded the Air Force Cross and personally thanked for his work by Winston Churchill.

After the war, he returned to his roots in education, working to become headteacher of Merstham Primary School – where he became known as the unconventional figure of Andrew and John's childhood.

Later in life, Mr Agate came to run an ice cream parlour on the beach in Shoreham, West Sussex.

To his pupils, their former headteacher remains a pivotal figure in their formative years, and his war records only bolster their image of him as a remarkable man.

As a teacher, paratrooper and war hero, Charles Agate's heroism lives on through those he helped and guided.