I was glad to be able to pop in to say farewell and happy retirement to local Head Teacher Phil Daniels, who has taught in the city for 43 years including being Head of what is now Springwood Heath Primary School for 30 years.

The school is a remarkable mainstream primary school which includes many physically disabled children who might not be able to go to other mainstream schools because of a lack of facilities to meet their particular needs. I remember one time that was particularly trying for all during the years of Labour Government when the new school building was going up and the builders went bankrupt leaving one of the demolished old buildings a dangerous pile of bricks on the playing field for a year or so. With two merged schools having to fit into one old unsuitable building, this was a trying time but we got it sorted out and the trauma is all forgotten now.

Phil leaves at the end of the week and if the retired people I know are any guide, he’ll end up busier than ever.