ONE of Wiltshire's longest serving headteachers is looking forward to a well-earned rest when he retires next month.

Tony Sadler, 60, is to step down as head of St George's Primary School in Warminster after 23 years in the job.

The father-of-three leaves the school on December 19, but will continue to be involved in education as county secretary for the National Association of Headteachers.

Mr Sadler said being a headteacher had often meant he missed out on time with his family. He is now looking forward to having quality time with his grown-up children and especially his wife, Madelaine, who has leukaemia.

He said: "I want to be with her and spend time with her. We want to do those things that we've not always had time to because of commitments to school.

"People say teachers are lucky, they've got six weeks holiday in the summer. But when the new hall was being built there were only 12 days I wasn't at the school including weekends."

Mr Sadler started out teaching maths and science in his native Sheffield 38 years ago and made his way to Warminster via posts in Fulham, Feltham and Grantham. At St George's he continued to teach PE until torn cartilage in his knees forced him to give it up five years ago.

He said he had seen the school change a lot during his time there.

"I've seen the school go from just under 100 on the role to over 200. We have also gone from having no facility for PE to our excellent hall.

"In the years to come I hope the children will look back with happy memories of the school because that is what I will be able to do."