Teaching joy followed Olympics heartbreak

2:59pm Sunday 20th July 2008

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A TEACHER and former champion athlete has crossed the finish line after 36 years at a Purton school.

Phil Scott, the deputy head at Bradon Forest, is bowing out after a long career.

Mr Scott has figured large in the lives of thousands of children, but also has another claim to fame.

He is the former British number one long jumper, who competed across the world and narrowly missed out on the Munich Olympics in 1972 after breaking his ankle.

Since hanging up his spiks in 1980, the father-of-two has devoted himself to Bradon Forest School.

He said: "The school is a part of me and, because as deputy head I've been involved in a lot of the new buildings at the school, when I walk around I really feel like these are my buildings."

Not that Mr Scott will be lacking things to do with his retirement time.

His eldest daughter had a baby in December, and his youngest is about to move to Bermuda, so family commitments will be taking up a lot of his time.

He said: "We're also planning a trip to Australia - one of the many things we meant to get round to when we were younger and have only just found time to do."

He will also retain a link with the school, as his wife Marilyn will continue to work in the main office.

During his 36 years at the school Mr Scott has seen a whole host of changes, with the numbers rising from 350 to the current level of 1,200.

He has also seen one former pupil go on to become a colleague.

Jennifer Cady, the school's arts manager, says she will always have fond memories of the man she could never get used to calling Phil.

She said: "He was always a strict man, but a fair one, and he had a lot of respect for his students.

"He was the sort of teacher who you knew would talk to you on your level and would take you seriously.

"The pupils have always respected him."

Although he has spent most of his career as a business teacher, he has always been available to help out with the PE department.

He said: "I often accompany them to events and at a recent one a pupil made a comment about wishing he had spiked running shoes.

"I suddenly thought about all the pairs I'd got languishing in my attic and so I searched them out and they got a new lease of life.

"It was really nice to see these shoes that I'd run in long before these boys were even born being used again.

"They were all joking that they had some sort of special power - I think they were a form of motivation for them."

Mr Scott celebrated his last day at the school yesterday with staff and pupils.