Ref. 25723-5RETIRING TEACHERS: GLOBETROTTING teacher Paul Winfield is retiring as head of St Mary's Primary School after a 39 year career.

In 27 years spent teaching in British Forces schools, he lived and taught in Singapore, Malta, Germany and other countries.

He came to Swindon in January 1993 as head of the Rodbourne Primary School.

He said that he chose to move to Swindon after his years of travel because regular forces flights to RAF Lyneham and Brize Norton had given him a fondness for Wiltshire.

"Having been away for so long we were always fond of the thought of living in Wiltshire," he said. "We knew a lot of service families who had lived here.

"I looked for the job and I came here. It has been a very, very successful move."

Mr Winfield is married to Cindy and has two grown up sons, Philip and David.

Mr Winfield, 61, from Shrivenham, enjoyed a week of celebrations including a party for 150 people and countless presents from staff, parents and children.

He plans to work part-time as an education consultant helping struggling schools improve, but says he will keep summer free of work.

Father Liam Slattery, parish priest of St Mary's Catholic Church and chairman of the school's governors, said: "The level of academic excellence, depth of spiritual and moral growth achieved by the children during his time as headteacher is something that Paul can rightly be proud of.

"Two good Ofsted reports and two School Achievement Awards emphasise what a privilege it has been to have had Paul Winfield at the helm at St Mary's during the past decade.

"And having achieved a hat-trick of league and cup doubles who knows what future offers may be forthcoming."