Surprise Farewell Party for Gordon
Posted on: Sunday, 20 July 2008, 00:00 CDT
By HANNAH TAYLOR
An education stalwart has retired after a 40-year career with South Devon College.
Gordon Budd, schools liaison manager, began his career in 1968 as a part-time lecturer in painting and decorating.
It was at a time when Young Girl by band The Union Gap was number one in the charts, the Apollo 8 spacecraft safely orbited the moon for the first time and the death of Martin Luther King was announced.
Gordon became a full-time lecturer in 1971 and achieved his Certificate of Education in 1992.
He became careers and school liaison officer in 2001, student services manager in 2003 and, in 2005, schools liaison manager, working with schools throughout South Devon.
Fellow colleagues, Devon schools representatives and well wishers joined Gordon and his wife Ann for a surprise celebration.
Friends and family scoured through the archives to find old photographs, certificates, and press cuttings of Gordon, including a piece in the Paignton News from 1959 on a young Gordon receiving an apprenticeship award, and a school report card from 1951 describing him as: 'a very good boy indeed'.
College principal Heather Maxwell said: "Many staff and colleagues from schools, and other well wishers, wanted to be here to wish Gordon well, and there are so many comments about his great kindness and support.
"I would like to add my personal message by saying we will all miss him very much and wish him well."
Gordon praised fellow colleagues in his send-off speech.
"Had it not have been for their hard work and commitment, I would not have made it to 40 years and I want you to know it has been a genuine pleasure to work with you all and I will miss you all very much," he said.
Gifts presented included Royal Horticultural Society membership, a purple orchid in the college colours and a large framed aerial photo of South Devon College.
(c) 2008 Herald Express (Torquay UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Source: Herald Express (Torquay UK)
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