A TEACHER who dedicated his 38-year career to humanities at a Newport school has retired.

Bryan Williams, 59, from High Cross, was a pupil at Bassaleg School and started teaching there in 1975 while his own father, Cyril, was head of music.

His two daughters, both now teachers themselves, also attended the school.

“I was a pupil at Bassaleg between 1965 and 1972 and went on to do three years training in Caerleon,” said Mr Williams, whose wife Jill has just retired as a primary school teacher in High Cross after 20 years.

“It’s a respectable job but in those days it was even more thought of as a profession.

My father, his sister, her husband were all teachers, it’s in the blood.”

It was a musical household growing up but Mr Williams was more into rugby, cricket and football, so when he started as a teacher the school let him have a go at teaching games lessons too.

With his father also being a singer, Mr Williams began to sing bass in the school choir and took roles, along with other staff in school productions, including Annie and Guys and Dolls.

He served under three head teachers, Raymond Jones, Dr Ian Garrero and Elizabeth Thomas, and taught history, geography and religious studies to children of all abilities, including those with additional learning needs.

“I remember I used to take the police quiz team and we got to the final at the Newport Centre,” he said. “I parked behind the centre and came out to find the car had been stolen, much to the amusement of the crime prevention team.” Mr Williams hopes to return to the school to do exam invigilation.

“I always have been very proud that I was a pupil there and taught in the school, it’s a very good school and the pupils and staff are excellent,” he said.

“The general routine I will miss initially, but how long that will last I don’t know.

You miss the children and the staff, they are willing to help everybody and a very professional and good company.”

The school won’t just remember Mr Williams’ teaching – his facial hair is also famous there.

“I have always had a moustache,” he laughed. “In my additional learning needs department the women who work there all bought false moustaches and wore them on a recent bowling trip.”