ONE of Swindon's longest-serving headteachers was ordered to stay away on one of his last mornings at the school, so staff could prepare a leaving surprise.

Brian Fullam has chalked up 24 years as head of Haydon Wick Primary School, but will be leaving for good when the term comes to an end next week.

Mr Fullam had a surprise start to the day, having been told he was not allowed to arrive for work until 9.30am, instead of his usual 7.30am.

When he eventually turned up at The Brow school yesterday morning, he found a mini golf course had been set up on the field for a fun day arranged by the parent teacher association as their way of saying goodbye.

A keen golfer, Mr Fullam has been at the school long enough that he is now seeing the children of children who came to the school in the 1980s coming up through the ranks.

Deputy headteacher Kath McCann said: "He's so super with the children, we wanted him to have some time with them before he left.

"What puts him head and shoulders above many headteachers is not only the continuity, but the fact he knows every single child, their family and everything about them.

"There is going to be a massive hole here when he goes. He is the school."

Mr Fullam, who plans to spend his retirement travelling and playing more golf, said he had "mixed emotions" about moving on.

"I will miss the children, the interaction with them and seeing them grow and develop.

"But I will not miss the increasing bureaucracy, all the nonsense from the Government and the local authority.

"Although Swindon has grown and engulfed Haydon Wick, we do like to think of ourselves as a village and the school has that feel. I really have been blessed with a wonderful 24 years, wonderful staff, supportive governors and parents who are understanding of what we want to do.

"Even after all this time, we still churn out nice' kids although that's an awful adjective. But they are good children with self esteem and a sense of worth."

Mr Fullam's wife, Kate, is headteacher at Wootton Bassett Infant School and she will also be retiring this summer.

Simon Cowley will be the school's new headteacher from September. He is moving to Haydon Wick from an international school in Egypt.