A retiring headteacher was today chuff-chuff-chuffed to bits as pupils gave him a warm send-off.

Youngsters at Castledon School, Wickford, made a presentation to Peter Webster to mark the end of his long career.

The 60-year-old said he would sorely miss staff and students at the special school, in Bromfords Drive.

He said: "Everyone has been wonderful and I'm really going to miss them."

Mr Webster joined the school as head in April 1979 and has seen it grow "slowly and substantially" over the last 20 years.

It now boasts a farm complete with sheep, geese, bees and a patch for growing mushrooms, a large aviary and a conservation area.

Work is almost complete on a £200,000 indoor swimming pool and a five-a-side football and basketball area has just been created.

Mr Webster said: "The school has quite a rich environment.

"The children not only learn through the curriculum, they learn incidentally as well.

"I have worked with special needs students my whole career. It was something I always had a great empathy with.

"The basic principles of teaching are applicable but I think there are arguably greater demands on the teacher in terms of patience, understanding and empathy."

Mr Webster, who lives in Chelmsford, began teaching late in life, at about the age of 30.

He had spent three years between the ages of 12 and 15 training as a De La Salle brother as part of the French teaching order which demands vows of poverty and celibacy be taken.

He then took a management job in Holland before spending three years in the Army and deciding to become a teacher.

Mr Webster worked in Surrey and at two schools in Northampton before coming to Wickford.

He now plans to spend his retirement writing.

He said: "I've always been interested in writing fiction but I've never had enough time to let myself do it.

"I write adventure mainly, plus a little romance."

A sad goodbye - for Peter Webster who takes some time out in the playground with his pupils before leaving Castledon school

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.