We are bidding a fond farewell to a familiar face for many here at Bede Sixth Form College.

After 20 years helping to keep the college running, site supervisor, Allan Bendelow, is retiring.

Looking forward to some hard-earned leisure time, he said: “I started work straight from school, so after 50 years of working, I think I have earned my retirement.”

While the dad-of-three, and granddad-of-six, reckons he will be putting his foot down when it comes to babysitting duties, he said his wife already has a list of jobs for him to do in the kitchen and garden.

It’s only to be expected after two decades spent keeping the college in tip top condition.

From painting walls to tending the gardens, keeping the power whirring or responding to the endless list of weird and wonderful requests from curriculum and support staff, he has picked up a host of additional skills along the way.

Joining the Bede team in 2005, Allan said back then the college was quite literally a different place. 

As assistant site manager his role was to service the old building on Hale Road. 

He said: “The old building was falling to bits, so we had lots of jobs on our hands just to keep it standing.”

When plans for the new build were first mentioned it was welcomed by Allan and the team.

Seeing the early drawings and attending planning meetings, he got to see new Bede created from the ground up.

“Looking after the current building is a very different job to when I first started,” he said. It’s fair to say he has seen plenty of changes along the way.

To staff and students, including principal Patrick Jordan, he is a stalwart of life at Bede, and to Allan it means more than he would probably admit.

Joining the army straight from school and moving into a lengthy career in steel erecting, Allan said: “I had been paid off and after a two-year break decided it was time to get a job.”

Spotting the vacancy at Bede, he explained: “I thought to myself that could be a job to retire in, but that was just I joke to myself. I never expected this to be the case; but here I am.”

From Billingham himself he explained part of the appeal was the proximity to home and after many years working away, the luxury of his own bed.

Today, reflecting on 20 years of Bede, he takes with him lots of friends and fond memories.

Not one for sentiment, Allan said: “It’s been good. Everyone can talk to each other.

“I will still walk past every day when I’m walking the dog.

“Bede has been all right, but retirement will be even better!”