A RETIRED headteacher has a date with royalty.

Huw Evans, the former headteacher of Watchfield Primary School, is due to collect his medal at Buckingham Palace next week having been awarded an OBE for his services to education.

Mr Evans worked tirelessly at the school for 33 years and held the headship for 31 years before retiring last July.

At the time Watchfield had children from 38 different nationalities and Mr Evans, 60, said the award was as much for the school as himself.

"It's a reflection on the school and the multi-national intake it has," he said.

"It makes you very proud that somebody has recognised your work after many, many years.

"It's fulfilling. You spend all of your life educating children, then you retire and this is the cream on the top.

"It's wonderful that you get recognised by the Queen and have this reward but it's not only myself, it's the school and the very high standards they have set. It's a superb school."

Mr Evans was given the recognition in the New Year's honours list in January.

When he was at the school he described its catchment area as "the globe" as it is located close to the Defence Academy of the UK, where military personnel from all over the world come to work and learn, bringing their families with them.

Mr Evans, of Wanborough, is going to London on Wednesday with his wife Judith, 59 and daughter Cerys, 33.

"I have talked to people who have had awards and they say it's quite a memorable day," he said.

"Apparently it goes by quite quickly, but it's worth taking it all in, which I hope to do. It will be very good."

And he is looking forward to going back to school and telling the youngsters about his day.

"I will be able to take the medal back to the school to show them," he said. "I still have lots of friends there and I visit them now and then, which is lovely."

As yet he does not know who will be presenting him with the OBE.

"Hopefully, it will be the Queen but sometimes it's Prince Charles," he said.

"It's very good for the area. Not too many people from this area have been given these awards."