Two Cumbrian school stalwarts have retired after 70 years of service.
Caldew School’s, in Carlisle, site manager Paul Harrison and deputy head of sixth form Allan James, are both retiring this summer.
The school said their contribution over the decades has played a vital part in student success both past and present and it formally thanked them for their years of dedicated service.
Paul started his career at Caldew School in 1985 as assistant caretaker taking over as site manager three years later.
He has lived in the caretakers cottage for the last 38 years moving in whilst celebrating his first wedding anniversary to wife Julie.
Paul said: “I feel proud to have made a difference to the school and know the site is in a better condition than when I first started.
“I’ve seen many changes over the years including the heartache of losing our animals during the foot and mouth outbreak and also the disruption caused by Covid.
“There’s also been lots of changes to the building including the new 6 Form Centre which opened last year and three new astro turf pitches!
“My friends always laugh at me because I say I love my job and there hasn’t been a day that I haven’t wanted to come in, I use Mark Twain’s quote ‘Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
Although Paul is ‘retiring’ he will be coming back two days a week to do the management side of the job.
Allan’s career at Caldew School started in September 1997 with a one term contract and teaching History.
Over the years he has taught many subjects including law, criminology , sociology, geography and EPQ. He took over as Head of Sixth Form in 2007 and is currently the deputy head of the sixth form.
Allan said: “I am extremely proud to have taught at Caldew School for 29 years. Over the years I have supported students to achieve their goals and support them through the UCAS process.
“I am always blown away when teaching a student when they join us in year 7, seeing the progress they make in Years 12 and 13 and then them getting back in contact with us years later and hearing how successful and wide-ranging all their career routes have taken – it’s why I have taught for so long.”
Paul and Allan will formally be stepping down from the roles at the end of the summer term.
