Four Hermitage Academy teachers with more than 100 years of experience between them will teach for the final time this week.

Robert Cassells, Robert Fyvie, James Holmes, and William MacDonald are all retiring on Friday, after teaching at the school for a collective 111 years.

Mr Cassells, currently depute head teacher in the academy, arrived 31 years ago as assistant principal teacher (APT) of English, having previously taught at Craigbank Secondary in Glasgow.

He quickly progressed to become principal teacher (PT) of English, then assistant head teacher and then on to his current post.

He also served as acting head teacher for a time.

For 23 years Rab Fyvie was a fixture in the maths department having arrived after eight years in Waverley Secondary, Drumchapel.

He was the quiz master and question writer for the annual quiz night – which is one of many reasons for his record number of ‘Best Teacher’ awards from S6 pupils.

Mr Fyvie has been heavily involved with the annual school show, helping manage the back stage crew.

Mr Cassells’ record of 31 years is only just beaten by the 33 years’ service of Jim Holmes. Jim arrived in Hermitage in 1982 as APT for physics and science. As a resident of Ayrshire, Jim has endured a long daily commute to and from the Helensburgh school.

Ron Meikle, former head of physics, said: “Jim is a very modest man, a good colleague to work with.

“He was acting principal teacher of physics for a while and is memorable for dressing up as Santa on science department Christmas nights out.”.

William MacDonald, PT of Physical Education, has worked for 24 years in the Academy. Unbeknown to many of his pupils, Bill was a very committed marathon runner in the 1980s and regularly ran the 26 miles in under three hours.

He played rugby at professional level and currently still regularly coaches in Glasgow. Former Academy pupil, and now a member of the PE staff, Ian MacAulay, remembers meeting Bill for the first time as an S4 pupil.

As part of Ian’s training as a highly ranked junior Scottish tennis player, the two of them would run, in the lunch hour, from the Academy buildings in Campbell Drive to the entrance sign in Cardross and back – a not inconsiderable distance of around six miles.

Head teacher, Geoff Urie, paid tribute to his colleagues.

He told the Advertiser: “Bob, Rab, Jim, and Bill have devoted many years to generations of pupils here in Hermitage Academy.

“They are universally liked by the pupils of the school and respected and admired by their colleagues.

“I thank all of them for all their hard work over the years and on behalf of all the pupils, past and present, and the staff of the school, I would like to take this opportunity to wish them well for a long, healthy, and happy retirement”.