I was more than a little sad to be making a trip to the Millennium Hall in Chew Magna, for a farewell “do”.

I thought that, as I had been on a year long sabbatical from Chew Magna school, I would slip out quietly, but, …no.

I am very grateful to Phil Hammond, (chair of governors at the school) Sue Taylor, Annie Spencer, the staff, pupils and others, for organising a really wonderful and relaxed evening. Touchingly, there were so many of my ex pupils there… and they are now all so much taller than me!

We all sang some of the songs from the two musicals that we performed and recorded at school. When I say “sung”… well, even I forgot most of the words.

Debbie and I had still been writing A Brand New Paige as we started rehearsals etc for the original performance!

Carl Sorensen did the design for the CD and posters.

For the party, he had done a fantastic photoshop job on the poster, substituting my head for that of Paige!

Quite disconcerting but thank you to all those who signed the back of it.

It was great to get three of the four main characters back together, to pose again for the poster.

Thank you Sophie, Stephen and James for recreating the scene.

(Sorry you couldn’t make it Lucy. It just meant I had to have a go )

Ellie’s school, Churchill Primary, are staging the musical this year with Ellie playing the part of Dagan, so it was good for her to meet the original.

Thank you to all of the staff, parents and pupils for the very generous gifts of a replacement Mr Walker, and a spectacular trip in a hot air balloon – one of my ambitions for years.

I am still introduced as Tim Rylands ” from Chew Magna Primary school” and know that I probably always will be.

Thank you for allowing me to take off and fly. I know you will do too.