A FUN-LOVING sports teacher who inspired generations of Witney schoolchildren has retired after 37 years.

Graham Davies, 59, taught physical education (PE) and maths at Henry Box School in Church Green.

And the Fordwells resident said his proudest moment came when students bid him farewell and gave him cards during his final assembly.

He said: “I will miss the kids massively. I had a lot of fun and teaching them was a fantastic thing to be able to do.

“It was great to be able to introduce many of them to these sports and then to read the Oxford Mail and see that they had gone on to play locally, sometimes to a good standard. That was rewarding.”

He added: “A lot of the students said they were disappointed I was leaving, which was really touching.

“I think that’s what I’m most proud of, the fact the kids enjoyed my lessons and the time I spent with them.”

Mr Davies, who grew up in Stow-on-the-Wold, joined the school in September 1974. It was his first job.

He said: “I enjoyed sport a lot – I played football and cricket at a reasonably good level – and I always wanted to be a PE teacher.

“The school had a vacancy and I turned up in the summer of 1974 and got the job, it was as simple as that. It’s a lot different now.”

Mr Davies was made head of PE in 1982 and stayed in the role for 18 years. He has taught around 10,000 students – including some of his own children Laura, 28, Andrew, 26, and Tom, 19.

Mr Davies organisied sports days, ski trips and events and ran the school’s Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

But he was also involved in sports outside the school, managing the mid-Oxon schools’ football team and the county schools’ under 15 and under 16 cricket teams.

He also organised the West Oxfordshire area badminton tournament for 10 years.

During his last 11 years at Henry Box, Mr Davies also taught maths and coordinated the school’s careers programme.

Mr Davies, grandad to Leah, six, and Jasmine, five, said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve done at Henry Box and I will miss it, but age is now a real issue.

“Teaching is really a young person’s profession – it’s very, very demanding.”

Mr Davies retired on December 31 and, although he has yet to make definitive plans, he is looking forward to spending more time on the golf course and getting married.

Mr Davies has been with his partner, Julie Hinks, 53, for 17 years and they plan to wed in September.

They met at Henry Box School, where Julie has spent 31 years as a PE teacher and an administrator.