Bernie Smith is retiring from Cwmbran High School after 40 years.

Watch Bernie Smith in this video

The assistant headteacher’s last day is next Wednesday when school closes for the summer holidays. But today staff in the ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) base held a coffee and cakes party after the school bell to say goodbye to Mr Smith. The Mayor of Torfaen Councillor Veronica Crick was at the event.

Pupils at the Base bought him a t-shirt emblazoned with: “The Legend Has Retired”.

There were tears, handshakes and hugs as former pupils also turned up. One colleague told me that several boxes of tissues will be needed next Wednesday when he says goodbye to the school for the last time.

Mr Smith told Cwmbran Life that a colleague was kind enough to say: “ ‘This bloke has given his life to this school’. In actual fact this school has given me my life.

“I’ve always loved being behind a door in a classroom, 30 kids and just getting them learning. That’s the bread and butter of teaching.”

Comments on Facebook

A Facebook event page for today has seen over 100 comments posted from former pupils. Click on this link to see the page and leave your own message.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=871141819658237&id=642742819164806