Staff celebrate teacher's 50-year career

Kevin Wyse (centre) teaches at St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Staff at a Staffordshire primary school have celebrated a colleague's fifty year teaching career.

Kevin Wyse began teaching in 1975, and two of his former students are now fellow teachers at St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Colleagues, friends and former students put on a surprise party to mark five decades in education for the man known around the school by the nickname Kevin "The King" Wyse.

"Fifty years in primary school teaching, he has earnt it good and proper," said fellow teacher Catherine Wrigley, adding he has retired twice, but "we can't get rid of him".

Mr Wyse said teaching was a big thrill for him and he loves seeing children grow

"I really do love teaching," said Mr Wyse, who likes showing off in front of the pupils, cracking jokes, but most importantly, "seeing children progress".

Mr Wyse described himself as a "failed footballer" who was persuaded to get into teaching after babysitting for the then chief education officer.

"He said 'what are you going to do now?' and I said 'I don't know', then he said 'have you tried teaching?'"

Mr Wyse said he became a student teacher in Bentilee in Stoke-on-Trent and went to college, and "that was it, I've never looked back since."

Joe Bridgewater was taught by Mr Wyse, and now works with him, and admits when he started, he could not bring himself to call him Kevin.

"It was still Mr Wyse" he said, describing part of his former teacher's magic as the "ability to transcend time".

Despite teaching in the 1970s being very different to today, "he still manages to engage the children and get on with all the young staff."

He is so determined to make sure the children do well, said a fellow colleague, adding Mr Wyse has joked "the last DT project he will do will be his coffin at this school."