A computer millionaire whose career was forged as a pupil at Bradford Grammar School has donated thousands of pounds to give others the same chance.

Mark Richer won a scholarship to Bradford Grammar under the old state-funded direct-grants system.

That was replaced by the assisted-places scheme, also now abolished.

But Mr Richer, 38, who made his computer fortune in the United States and sold his firm Calista for $55 million, is now helping a new generation of bright sparks.

He is part-funding five scholarships per year at Bradford Grammar and dropped in yesterday to check how the newest recruits are getting on.

The special places are known as Norfolk Scholarships in memory of one of Mr Richer's classmates, Nigel Norfolk. The pair were due to move on to Cambridge University together in 1981 but Nigel died tragically before he could take up his place.

"He was on a scholarship like me, and was a super guy," said Mr Richer, formerly of Bingley. "He was very, very bright, full of energy and always smiling.

"It was absolutely terrible when he died out of the blue - healthy 18-year-olds don't normally keel over."

He traced Nigel's parents to ask their permission to use his name for the scheme, and was delighted when they agreed.

Now living in Silicon Valley, California, with his wife and three children, Mr Richer, who is pictured with some of his scholarship pupils, was writing computer programmes while studying at Bradford Grammar.

He completed a degree in physics and chemistry at Cambridge and has worked in IT ever since.

The school's head teacher Stephen Davidson said: "From our perspective, we are just incredibly proud of him and extraordinarily grateful for the support he gives these amazing boys and girls who otherwise wouldn't be able to come.

"It's rare you see absolutely genuine altruism but this is it."