Past pupils say goodbye to David Cassar

Past pupils, families and friends met up with him one last time for a presentation and celebration before David leaves at the end of this term.

Around 150 attended the event which gave everyone the opportunity to catch up and send him on his way with a present as well as their best wishes and memories.

Director of Residential Community Services Neil Masterton said: "This is a recognition of the work that David has done at St Mary's to help these young people on their way in life. Being at St Mary's is the first step on the ladder to further independence, a major step towards personal success."

David commented: "I feel very emotional. This has taken almost a third of my life - I am going to be 60 in July, and 18 and half years have been spent here. It is very emotional to think I am going to be leaving."

He told the students: "I have seen some of you today that I haven't seen since the first year I arrived at St Mary's, in 1991, and there are people here from 1992 as well.

"I am so very proud of every single one of you, the way you have conducted yourselves and gone out there and shown everybody what St Mary's students can do. It is absolutely fantastic.

"St Mary's has for me been a wonderful time...I know that we are if not the best special school of this type in the country then we are certainly one of the best. But I think we have had the best students and pupils that any school could ever have - and that is you. Thank you for coming today."

The presentation was made by past student Alan Sambrook.