AN Island headteacher who taught comedian Russell Brand is retiring from Ballacottier Primary School.

John Rhodes has been in charge at the school for thirteen years but will take early retirement in the summer.

The teacher, who trained in Durham 36 years ago, taught Russell Brand when he worked at Little Thurrock Primary School in Grays, Essex.

He even appeared in Russell's best selling book - My Booky Wook - although not by name.

John explained: "I took a bottle of whisky in to the school in 1984 to celebrate my daughter's birth with colleagues (after school of course) and afterwards it was secreted in a staffroom cupboard to gather dust.

"Years later Russell and a friend were dispatched by me to wash the teachers' mugs. They found the bottle in a cupboard and took a swig or two. The rest of the story is in the book but, in a nutshell, he reckoned he had not been found out. That was until I read his book some 20 years later and emailed Russell to let him know he had.

"Thus began an attempt by the BBC to get me on Russell's Radio 2 show to spill the beans on his time at school. Thankfully, although I was scheduled to appear on the show, it didn't happen as my telephone slot on the show was taken at the last minute by the unexpected arrival in the studio that Saturday night by Paul McKenna. Phew! This was shortly before his show was taken off air."

John moved to the Island with his family in 1989 to take up a teaching post at Willaston Primary School. After several years there he was appointed deputy headteacher at Fairfield Junior School where he stayed for six years. He became headteacher of Ballacottier Primary School in 1998.

He said: "Ballacottier School is a fabulous place for children and staff to work in. It is a special place with a special atmosphere and this is often commented on by visitors.

"I hope that the new headteacher is able to maintain this and enjoy the school as much as I have.

"We have a wonderful team here at Ballacottier and I thank them all, past and present, for their hard work and support over the last 13 years."

Martin Barrow, senior adviser with the Department of Education and Children, said: "Mr Rhodes has been a popular, enthusiastic and energetic first headteacher for Ballacottier School and as such has been responsible for leading its development into the happy and successful school it is today.

"I know that he will be greatly missed by everyone connected with the school and its community and I am sure they would join with the department in wishing him a long, happy and healthy retirement."

The vacant headship will be advertised next week.