LYDFORD Primary will enter a new era this September as popular headteacher Brian Donahue leaves the school after more than 11 years at the helm.

Mr Donahue, who will spend this summer teaching particularly able and talented children in London, said he had countless happy memories of his time at Lydford.

His particular favourite was the visit of an education department official, at a time the cramped village school was pressing for extra accommodation.

After he and the staff bemoaned the 'beautiful azure day' which might put a better light on the school's overcrowding problems, a large black cloud rolled in at the same time as the official's shiny car.

'It was hail,' said Mr Donahue. 'We took him to the outside toilets, which were a disgrace, with hail bouncing off his head.

'We'd primed the infants and that morning they wanted to draw around me, which entailed me lying on the floor, so it appeared even more crowded.

'We had the juniors in the only other room, doing map work with their maps spread out.

'Apparently as soon as he went back to his office, he said "We have to do something about Lydford"!'

As a result of the visit, an 'absolutely superb' extension was built at the school which was finished in 1996, said Mr Donahue. All the rafters in the new building were signed in indelible pen by every child and member of staff.

He said he was given a 'great send off' arranged by Pat Martin, who has taught at Lydford for 25 years. Among other gifts he was given a piece of pottery made by John Bedding.

New headteacher at the school will be Gill Page, who is moving with her husband from Hemel Hempstead.

Mrs Page said she was very much looking forward to the new challenge of taking on the post at Lydford Primary and paid tribute to Mr Donahue.

'I wish him well in everything he is going to do. I am sure he will be missed, but I want to keep the school going in the way it was under him,' she said.

BRIDESTOWE Primary School will start its autumn term in September with a new headteacher.

Shan Maiden will take over from Joe Morris, who has been acting head since the retirement of Daffyd Thomas last year.

A Tavistock resident, Mrs Maiden has been working as a senior teacher at Mount Tamar School in Plymouth for the last few years and before that she was a teacher at Lifton Primary School.

She said she had been looking for a headship in a small primary school in her locality when the Bridestowe job came up.

'It's a lovely school and set in a beautiful environment with nice grounds,' she said. 'Bridestowe is also a very attractive village with a good sense of community but most of all the children at the school are delightful — very welcoming and friendly.'

Mrs Maiden is married with three children, aged 21, 19 and 14.

She qualified as a teacher in Brighton and taught in London and Leicestershire before moving to Devon in 1986.