PUPILS, staff and parents from St Peter's School in Tavistock waved goodbye to their much-loved headteacher John George last Thursday.
Mr George has been at the school for 23 years and during his farewell ceremony last week, he told everyone how much he had enjoyed every moment of his time there.
At the ceremony, held after school, Mr George was presented with gifts from the youngsters and their families and staff. The main present was an SLR camera, which was bought for him to use during his travels.
His goodbye speech saw him admit that when he first started his post at the school, he assumed he would only be there between five and seven years — he never anticipated he would stay for 23 years.
He said: 'My time here has flown by so quickly.
'When I first made my way to Tavistock I stopped at Cox Tor Car Park and I pulled the car in and I looked over Tavistock and I thought how fortunate I was to come to this area.
'I thought I would stay for a short time and maybe apply for somewhere else but I have never applied for another job anywhere else.
'This school is special and I have been fortunate to work here. I am so blessed to have been the headteacher — thank you all so very much.'
Mr George is off to Mexico this August but for his retirement he one day plans to teach for a year in Africa.