A SPLENDID surprise send-off was arranged for a West Devon headteacher last week, who has retired after almost 25 years at the school.

Past and present pupils, parents and friends, gathered at North Tawton Town Hall to give Neil Hallam a real community retirement party.

Mr Hallam said: ?It was lovely, I was asolutely staggered, I was in a daze really.

?I knew there was something going on but I thought it was going to be on Thursday. I was in the process of going home and had been delayed several times, on purpose I think.?

Mr Hallam said staff told him to get his hat and coat and told him he wasn?t going home.

?I had no idea where I was going. I ended up in the town hall and it was absolutely jammed solid with children, past pupils and all sorts of people from the town ? it was very emotional.?

Mr Hallam, who is 58, said he had many happy memories of his time at North Tawton Primary School, including twinning visits, school trips and fundraising to heat the school swimming pool.

?I shall very much miss the children, that?s what I will really miss,? said Mr Hallam, who said he was looking forward to a break at home with his wife.

He said they will continue to live in North Tawton and intend to do some travelling in the UK and abroad and make more use of their caravan in Cornwall.

And during his retirement, he should be able to make good use of his retirement gifts ? a ?wonderful? digital camera and a complete set of painting equipment, including pastels, watercolours, oils, brushes and paper.

?It?s wonderful, the generosity of people,? said Mr Hallam, who is also a retired Royal Navy reservist.

His other retirement present from the local education authority was also very apt ? a day out with the Royal Navy in Plymouth.