A long serving and highly regarded member of the county's teaching profession, Mr. Robert Northridge, Deputy Headmaster of Portora Royal School, officially retires at the end of August.

He will have given 37 years' service to the school, where his association spans a total of 55 years - being an old Portoran (1955 to 1962).

At a well-attended retirement party at the school last Friday evening, warm tributes were paid to Robert, who was joined by his wife, Hannah, his father Canon Aubrey Northridge, teaching colleagues and friends and associates from around Ireland.

Born in Londonderry, Robert, a son of Church of Ireland rector, Canon Northridge and his late wife Moyra, he lived in Convoy, followed by Castlederg (where his father served as rector for 30 years, 1951 to 1981).

After leaving Portora, where he was a boarder, Robert continued his studies at Trinity College, Dublin. He did Voluntary Services Overseas in the West Indies and he taught in Nigeria.

He completed his PGCE in Cambridge, where he met his wife Hannah and he then taught for a time at Coleraine Academical Institution, before taking up his appointment at Portora, where he has remained ever since.

Throughout his career, Robert has been very interested in rowing, a sport he took up during his schooldays at Portora and continued at Trinity, followed by Cambridge.

At Portora, he succeeded David Robertson as Master in Charge of Rowing and then handed over the reins to Derek Holland.

He continues to take an active interest in rowing and he is also very interested in natural history - another long-held passion.

He and his wife, Hannah have four children, Claire, Tamsin, Rebecca and Richard.

His family, natural history and rowing all feature in his retirement plans, although Robert confesses he will miss the pupils and the company and he will also miss mathematics - a subject he really enjoys teaching.

A synopsis of the retiring Deputy Head's life and career was provided by speakers during last Friday night's successful get-together - which proved an enjoyable occasion for all concerned.

The large team responsible for organising the event has been acknowledged by Robert.