AFTER 34 years in education, 10 and a half of which spent as principal of Devenish College, Mervyn Walker will retire at the end of this school year.
He took over as principal at Devenish College in September 2004 and he along with staff, parents and pupils have been forced to wait over 10 years for a new build.
With progress now being made on the new build, with enabling works completed and assurances construction work will begin in the summer of 2016 Mr Walker feels the time is right to step aside.
“I will be taking early retirement at the end of this school year.
I have been involved in education for 34 years so feel that it is now time to take some personal time and do other things.
I hope to spend some more time with the family – wife Adele, son Chris and daughter Kim – get involved in sport again, pursue my hobby of photography, do some voluntary work and travel.”
Mr Walker was born in Lack and lived in Kesh for 26 years before recently moving to Letter.
He studied a B.Ed honours degree in Physical Education at the University of Ulster Jordanstown where he met his wife Adele and then got a post as a Youth Tutor in the Duke of Westminster High School after graduation.
He then progressed to become Vice Principal at the school before being appointed the principal of the newly formed Devenish College in 2004, an amalgamation of Enniskillen High School and the Duke of Westminster High School.
In his 10 years at Devenish Mervyn has nothing but fond memories as principal and admits it is with a heavy heart he departs.
“There is no doubt that I will miss the buzz of being involved with people and educational matters on a daily basis. I will not miss the long hours though.”
He continued: “My abiding memory of my years as principal of Devenish College is without doubt the many wonderful people I have met and worked with. This has been a real pleasure for me.”
The progress on the new Devenish College build on the Tempo Road site is a particularly pleasing recent development for Mervyn, although long overdue. He sees a positive future for those involved with Devenish
“I am pleased that, at long last, significant progress is being made with the new school build for Devenish. All those involved with the College deserve a new state of the art school and I look forward to the day the students and staff walk through the doors.”
He added: “I’m confident that the new principal will lead the team which will ensure the further development of Devenish College so that the staff and governors can continue to provide the best education possible for the students who attend the college.”
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere