RETIRING teacher Keith Howard has put away his chalk for the last time - after spending 25 years at the same school.

Keith, deputy headteacher at Penwortham Priory High School, has spent the last quarter of a century teaching a generation of Penwortham teenagers the finer points of geology.

And while the teaching profession is currently dogged by controversy, Keith says he has loved every minute.

He said: "I don't know why people are so determined to knock our profession.

"We have some wonderful young teachers coming through and I would hate to think other people were being put off because of the suggestion that teaching is a bad job.

"I have loved it."

Keith arrived at the school 25 years ago, and was deputy head by the age of 31. He has always lived within five minutes of the school, something which he says has made his time there even more enjoyable.

He said: "I never realised I lived so close to so many of the children until they learned I was retiring.

"I can't go anywhere without seeing ex-pupils, it's great."

Keith is now looking forward to days taking photographs, working in the garden and hiking.

But he isn't the only departure from Priory. The other deputy head, Roger Stringer, retired last term from the school. He had been there for 30 years.

School spokesman David Rhodes said: "We are very sad to be losing both teachers so quickly.

"They have done so much to make the school what it is today and will be missed very much."

A retirement party was held for the pair at the Guild Hall last week.

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