BRIAN Blair will retire this week after 17 years in charge of St Mary's RC Primary School in Douglas.

Mr Blair, who is one of the Department of Education and Children’s longest serving heads, was schooled in Glasgow and taught there before a nine-year stint at forces’ schools in Germany.

He worked as a deputy headteacher in Peterborough for three years and was appointed head of St Mary’s in 1993.

He has a master’s degree in education and has expertise in teaching children with special needs.

He is married to Rae and has three sons, Mark, Paul and Jamie, and a grandson, Tyrone. He is heavily involved in football, via Douglas High School Old Boys.

Mr Blair said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here at St Mary's with the many challenges the job has delivered. It has been a great pleasure to take St Mary’s forward and achieve the standards the school has reached. 

"The governors, the staff, the parents and, most importantly, the children have played a significant part in helping to promote the school to the standard it has within the community.

"It has been great working them and I would like to wish them every success for the future."

After the school bell goes for the final time on Friday, Mr Blair will head off on holiday before converting the ‘jungle’ at the back of his house into a garden.

On behalf of the Department of Education and Children, Senior Adviser Martin Barrow wished Mr Blair well in his retirement and thanked him for his lengthy service.

He said: "Mr Blair has been a popular, enthusiastic and energetic headteacher who has committed a significant part of his professional life to leading and developing St Mary's School and making it what 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."

Deputy headteacher Tim Short will serve as acting headteacher from September pending the appointment of a permanent head.