A VILLAGE primary school is preparing to say ‘How’ to a pow-wow of superb Wild West re-enactors at a showdown for its departing head teacher.

Franz Atkinson, who has been head at Greenford School in Maiden Newton for 23 years, is finally getting off his horse and laying down his lasso at the end of term.

His final shoot-out, on Saturday, July 13, is set to be a good one – and he’s hoping to corral hundreds of visitors to join him in a day full of fun at the school, including bucking bronco, archery, skittles, panning for gold, cactus and horseshoe tossing and Mexican-themed food.

The Lawmen, a Wild West show team and The Searchers, a Living History group, will be arriving in the village, re-enacting what life would have been like for cowboys and Indians in an old west American town.

There will be western-themed entertainment throughout the day with line dancing, songs from western musicals and live entertainment with ‘Stompin’ Dave’ and his Hillbilly band.

And the day will be rounded off with a whip-cracking hoedown with live music from a London-based Hoedown band.

Mr Atkinson said: “Having held the reins for many years and managed to remain in the saddle, it’s now time to hand over to someone else. Before I do I would like to end my headship with a real Wild West Dorset hoedown send off.

“Come and join in the fun during the daytime with the children, and then in the evening let your hair down at the hoedown.”

There will be a licensed bar throughout the event.

Entry for the day is free for children and £4 for adults. A combined adult ticket for the day and the evening Hoedown is £10 and entry to the evening event only will be £8. The evening will be adults only.

You are invited to attend the event dressed the part – get out your Stetson, your denim and your best checked shirt and join in the fun. There will also be fancy dress on sale.

The gates for the daytime event open at 10am and re-open at 6.30pm for the evening hoedown.

n Tickets can be ordered on 01300 32044

Go to greenford.dorset.sch.uk for more information.