THE retiring principal of Tavistock College, Helen Salmon, was one of the head teachers invited to a special celebration in Exeter last week.

The leader of Devon County Council, John Hart, and the cabinet member for schools, James McInnes, chief executive Phil Norrey and head of education and learning, Sue Clarke, hosted the celebration for 12 heads who left their schools during the current academic year after a lifetime of service.

In all they have spent 324 years educating children across the county.

Helen Salmon came to Devon in 2006 to become head of an Exeter secondary school and moved to Tavistock in 2010.

She was among the heads invited to a special garden party and buffet supper in Exeter.

Mr Hart told them: 'Devon has a lot to be proud of – particularly in its education service.

'My sincere thanks go to you all on behalf of Devon County Council and the children of Devon for all the work you have done and the results you have achieved despite the low national funding of our schools.'

He said he wished those who were retiring a long and happy retirement and every success to those who were moving on to new ventures.

Dr Norrey said he wanted to thank the heads on behalf of the thousands of children who had passed through their care over the years.

'It is heads and teachers in schools who make a difference and you can look back with pride on a job well done,' he said.