Long serving Tavistock College staff retire after decades at the school

TWO of Tavistock College’s longest serving teachers have retired after a combined 64 years at the school.

Geography teacher Tony Welsh and ICT teacher and assistant principal Austin Hill have taught thousands of students over a period of 37 and 27 years respectively, helping them achieve their goals and go on to successful careers.

Fellow geography teacher Tori Froud said: “Tony Welsh is one of the keystone staff at Tavistock College. He has been a head of house and head of year, as well as a very active member of the geography and PE departments.

“Tavistock College is losing one of the most kind, caring, thoughtful and active individuals that has ever graced its teaching staff.”

They were given a rousing send off by colleagues who reminisced about their time at the college and presented them with gifts and cards to thank them for their hard work and contribution.

Mr Welsh’s last ever tutor group baked him a homemade cake and produced a giant card with kind words and photographs of their time at the college.

Austin Hill joined in 1983 to take over the fledgling ICT department and saw in a wealth of technological developments including the invention of Windows.

His first staff appointment, ICT teacher Jo Neill, said: “Mr Hill has had a direct influence on the lives of many young people, and indeed many of the staff at Tavistock, and will be very greatly missed both for his vast subject knowledge and for the support he provided to the rest of us.”