It is the end of an era for Largs PE department as long serving teacher Catherine Garrett, who has been influential in sports education for generations of children, is retiring after 38 years and four months.
Catherine, 61, started at Largs Academy away back in 1977, and was recognised for her sterling work when she was honoured to be nominated to carry the Queen's relay baton for the Commonwealth Games two years ago - one of her proudest moments.
Catherine highlighted the school being recognised with a prestigious national award for innovation and achievement in delivering physical education and extra-curricular sport - the Sports Scotland Gold Sport Award - as another particular highlight in her career.
Catherine, who lives in Ardrossan, has also been involved in developing 'Active Schools' which is a partnership programme whose success is entirely dependent upon the ability to engage with others.
She said: "I’ve been lucky enough to be involved with the Largs Community Sports and Leisure Club at Largs Academy for number of years. In 2006 it transferred to community ownership and, since then, it’s continued to grow in size and stature, with a current membership of 165.
"The coaching team at the club is drawn almost entirely from current or former Largs Academy pupils, and it’s been a real privilege to watch them mature and grow in confidence over the years.
"As an independent club, it regularly attracts funding for projects such as sailing tuition at Largs Sailing Club and subsidised places with the Ocean Youth Trust. It also enjoys links with a wide variety of other local sports clubs including tennis, rugby, handball, bowling, fencing and athletics.
"One of the highlights of my career was when Largs Academy was awarded the sportscotland Gold School Sport Award in June 2015. It was a fitting reward for the invaluable partnership we have between the PE department, the Active Schools team and the School Sport Committee. The committee itself came about through the application process for the award and has been a huge help in bringing everyone round the table to plan together. In addition, I was delighted that the school was also awarded the North Ayrshire School of Sport in October 2015.
Catherine firmly believes that everyone should have the opportunity to develop and achieve in sport.
Back in 2011, Catherine arranged for a visually impaired pupil to attend a Scottish Disability Sport Talent ID Event, where he tried out judo, boccia and swimming.
He showed real potential when he got in the pool and before long he was training with the Scottish Paralympic team. He went on to compete at the Sainsbury’s UK School Games in 2015 and won the Spirit of the Games award, from over 1,600 young athletes.
He’s now moved on to cycling, trains with the Scottish Performance Tandem Cycling squad and hopes to represent Scotland at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and is one of many to have benefitted from the Academy teacher's expertise.
As a sportsperson herself, Catherine has represented Scotland at badminton in her 20s, and more recently, in 2010, competed in the British Ladies Senior Golf.
She added: "I’m also privileged to have had a career in sport and to meet so many inspirational and remarkable volunteers — they’re the glue that sticks Active Schools together."
Speaking to the 'News', Catherine said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the inspirational volunteers who contributed to the successful extra curricular programme in Largs Academy and in the community over the years."
And despite Catherine retiring from her role as an Active Schools Coordinator, it is apt that you’ll still find her at Largs Academy, coaching netball as an Active Schools volunteer.