Lyme Regis: Woodroffe School's Jim Thomas up for lifetime achievement award (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme Regis: Woodroffe School's Jim Thomas up for lifetime achievement award

11:30am Wednesday 25th April 2012 in Local News

AFTER 37 years Woodroffe teacher Jim Thomas is still as passionate about his job as he was when he started – and the proof is he has been nominated for a lifetime achievement award by one of his former pupils.

Mr Thomas is now on the shortlist for the Ted Wragg award and spent last Wednesday with assessors watching him teach and talking to his colleagues and pupils.

Mr Thomas, 58, now head of sixth form, turned up in Lyme Regis in 1975 on a one-year temporary contract and has been there ever since.

He said he stayed because he loved everything about his job and enjoyed everything about Lyme, where he met his wife.

Geography teacher Mr Thomas said he couldn’t wish for a better place to inspire his students with the subject.

He said: “I love the subject, I want to share my love and enthusiasm with others and I think you could not wish to teach geography in a better place than on the Jurassic coast.

“I have always taught geography but my main role now is head of sixth form and preparing students for university and work experience.”

Although his passion is clear he did not find singing his own praises for the judges a comfortable experience.

He said: “The assessors have been telling me to blow my own trumpet all day and I find it quite embarrassing.

“I seem to get a lot of satisfaction from students doing well and following what they do when they go onto to university or when they go into the work place. It is the whole package.”

“I think I am a committed teacher, I work hard, I do my best for the students, I relate well to them. I have always lived in Lyme or Uplyme and I see a lot of them outside school as well with regard to clubs and societies.

“I spent 21 years on the lifeboat crew, I was senior helmsman on that before retiring because of the age limit and I have spent the last ten years as a coastguard.

“I have always put my little bit extra into the community. I am a keen sailor and member of the sailing club.”

He paid tribute to his colleagues and said he was lucky to work in such a good school.

He added: “Even after 37 years I am as passionate as ever but I intend going on a little bit longer.

“People seem to think because I have been nominated for a lifetime award I am going to pack it in but I still have a few years left in me.”

Head Dr Richard Steward also paid tribute to Mr Thomas.

He said: “I was delighted to learn that Jim had been nominated for such a prestigious award, he thoroughly deserves it.

“He is a tremendous asset to the school and it is clear that everybody on the staff hopes he wins.”