Two of our Salesian Schools are losing long-standing members of staff.

At Salesian College, Farnborough, they are saying goodbye to Nick Crean and Andy Smith, and at Thornleigh Salesian College, Bolton, they are also saying goodbye Andrea O'Callaghan

Below is the text from Salesian College, Farnborough. Written by Senior Deputy Headteacher, Mr Moore:

This year we say farewell to our two longest serving members of staff. Mr Nick Crean, who joined the College in 1983, and Mr Andy Smith, who joined the College in 1992, will both retire this summer after many years of dedicated and outstanding service to Salesian College. They have contributed with enthusiasm in so many areas of school life during their careers and will be much missed by colleagues, students and parents, past and present.

Mr Nick Crean was appointed in 1983 as a teacher of PE and History before becoming first Head of PE and then Head of Sixth Form. After a spell in another school, he returned to the College as Deputy Head (Pastoral), a role which he held until 2020 when he stepped down to teach A-level Politics and History. Mr Crean continued to involve himself with energy in College sports taking the lead with golf and table tennis and assisting regularly with cross country and athletics. He is well known for remembering the names, faces and many miscellaneous facts about the hundreds of students whom he has known over his 31 years at the College. Mr Crean has been on countless school visits but is probably most associated with the Year 12 HCPT Easter pilgrimages to Lourdes and the Year 9 Battlefields visits.

Mr Andy Smith has taught at the College since 1992. Initially appointed as a teacher of Spanish, he became first Head of Spanish and then Head of Modern Foreign Languages, a post which he has held since 2009. Mr Smith has also been Head of Years 7 and 11, a Year 7 form tutor and he has been House Master of St Hugh's since 1993. An excellent sportsman himself, Mr Smith has been heavily involved in College sports with his expertise being deployed in rugby and cricket in particular. He has also overseen the lunchtime cross country club and been the 'voice of sports day' for many years. Mr Smith has organised and led numerous visits to Spain, several of these in conjunction with the PE department as both linguistic visits and rugby tours. He has also been a frequent contributor on the Year 7 Lake District residential and Duke of Edinburgh's expeditions.

At Thornleigh, the Senior Leadership Team were invited to the Provincial House for their annual end of year meal with the Bolton community. Together they celebrated the work of departing Headteacher Andrea O'Callaghan and her 30 years of Salesian education.

We thank all of them for their work with the Salesians and pray for them all as they move onto the next chapter of their lives.