OUTGOING headteacher Ray Norman is proud to be leaving a school that he feels has become an integral part of the community.

Mr Norman, 60, is retiring Lethbridge Primary school after quite literally building it up to be part of the community.

Mr Norman arrived at the school 12 years ago when he left South Marston primary and was handed the difficult task of building the school from scratch.

The school in Old Town was created after the infant and junior schools integrated and a new school had to be built because the buildings were not up to standard.

Since then Mr Norman has worked hard to create a primary the community can be proud of.

He said: “It has been a real privilege to be here for the last 12 years.

“When I came here it was a different place.

“In 2000 they integrated a junior and an infant school here, so there was a big rebuilding project because the buildings here were quite poor.

“So not only did we put the two schools together, but we had a building project which took up my first two years.”

A special assembly was held yesterday to mark Mr Norman’s retirement, which was attended by the whole school.

He was presented with a signed Swindon Town shirt and vouchers for his new Kindle book reader before he was given a three cheers send off from all the children.

“I don’t think today was remarkable, it was a lovely occasion, but the children are always so well behaved and happy,” he said.

“The thing I am most proud about the school is it is a community, and the support we get from the parents, that we are really a pivotal part of the Old Town community.

“Also we do some lovely productions here.

“You can see this morning, the amount of people involved in the school, around 500 children, 60 members of staff and really I am incredibly proud of all of them.I am from the Old Town area so I am sure I will see pupils and staff around.

“I just think I will miss coming in every day and seeing so many happy people.

“The school is moving into the future and I think my 12 years here has been an interesting one.”