An emotional farewell was bid to the retiring headteacher at Overmonnow school's PTFA fete on Thursday (9th July)

Huw Williams took over the reins in 2002 and became a popular headteacher with pupils and staff over the years. A special ceremony to thank him took place before the Summer fete opened, beginning with Foundation Phase children singing "He's got the whole world in his hands".

This was followed by a presentation of a cake by Susie Smith on behalf of the PTFA, staff and all the pupils, then the children sang a medley of Welsh rugby songs.

A poem by Year 6 was read out, and then a fingerprint from each pupil was made into a framed picture of a tree and was presented by head boy and head girl.

Mrs Adams, Chair of the Governors said that it wasn't often she was lost for words, but this was one of those occasions: "Thank you for what you have taught me personally and what you have given everybody unconditionally, you are in our hearts".

Replying, Huw said that he was a little bit irritated today when one of his staff came to see him earlier on that day to do some work with personnel, "now I see it was a little bit of a ruse, I was just being kept out the way.

"I do need to say a huge thank you to the teachers, to the teaching assistants, the support staff, and to the pupils for making this afternoon what it has just been, an absolute delight for me.

"The delight I have has not just been this afternoon, I have had the privilege to work over the last 13 years with some very special members of staff, who have given me lots of fun, lots of challenge on occasion when it has been deserved, some good team spirit and the utmost in professionalism and for that I'm very very grateful.

"I am very lucky to have had supportive parents, a supportive PTFA and a very supportive governing body all of which want to take the school forward.

"Although I must say, I didn't come in to teaching to just be with parents, staff or governors, I came into teaching to be with pupils and the best joys that I've had have been with the pupils."

He then cut the ribbon to officially declare the fete open.