Rossendale teacher to retire after 40 years (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Rossendale teacher to retire after 40 years
4:30pm Wednesday 18th July 2012 in News
By Chris Gee, Reporter
Brian Souter
AN INSPIRATIONAL teacher from Rossendale who ends a 40-year career this week, says he leaves with ‘thousands of treasured memories’.
Brian Souter, 63, from Edenfield, retires from teaching on Friday, bringing to an end a glittering career which saw him honoured with an MBE in 2002.
Mr Souter, who previously lived in Helmshore, began teaching history at Southlands High School, Chorley, in September 1972, going on to teach economics and law and later being promoted to deputy-head 1988.
Despite his management role he still continued in the classroom, teaching at least a half timetable and leading numerous extra-curricular activities.
He said: “I’ll allow myself a moment of reflection on Friday but I’ve always said memories are better than dreams and I’ve such a great time at Southlands.
“I’ve stayed so long because it’s a happy atmosphere. You’re not young for long and it’s important children learn in a happy environment.
“A child gains more from being valued than evaluated and that’s what this school is all about.”
Current head-teacher Mark Fowle paid growing tribute to calling him a “dedicated and inspirational” teacher.
He said: “He has made numerous and wide ranging contributions to the achievements of Southlands. Some of these include leading winning teams in the BBC Schools Question Time competition, taking sports teams, winning a national award for School Curriculum Design and being awarded an MBE.
“This in addition to being deputy head and teaching 10 different subjects to examination level.
“Throughout his career he has guided and enthused children to fulfil their future dreams and ambitions.”
Mr Souter added that although his teaching career was over he was not retiring from work.
He will be working for three days a week with The Debt Advice Foundation on a money education for schools. He is also planning to write two books, a whimsical comedy about the career of a teacher and a more academic volume about his ideas for the future of education.
