Emotional words from retiring rector Lindsay Matheson, whose last day at the St Andrews secondary school was marked with a rousing departure from pupils and staff and a fly-past by two Tornado F3 jets from 111 (F) Squadron, based at RAF Leuchars.

The fly-past, timed to the second, was made more poignant by the fact that Madras S6 pupil, Joe Parker, was occupying the navigator's seat in one of the jet fighters!

To the skirl of the school pipe band, pupils from S1 - S3 gathered in the school playground of the Kilrymont Road building last Friday afternoon to bid farewell to Mr Matheson, who had been in post for 10 years.

S2 pupil Lindsey Wright led the pupils' tribute, recalling when - as a new first year pupil - Mr Matheson had come to her aid as she had been trying to find a classroom.

She said that his kindness and consideration were typical of the man who had been a staunch supporter of school life and after-school activities, qualities which contributed to his popularity among the pupils.

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