A HEAD teacher who helped thousands of physically disabled children fulfil their potential at a Southampton special school has retired after 25 years.

Brian Hart, pictured above, joined Cedar School for pupils with severe physical difficulties in 1973 and became head teacher in 1980.

During that time he has seen pupil numbers grow, new school extensions built, and the types of disabilities change.

However, he said his success was down to the teachers, support staff and the children of the school, as well as its supporters, who every year help to raise £150,000 towards the running costs.

Mr Hart, who lives in Nomansland, in Wiltshire, said: "We all work together. I have never seen my job as any more important than anyone else's in the school.

"I would like to thank all the friends of the school and the staff and children, because they are the most important ones."

When Mr Hart joined the school most of the youngsters had spina bifida, but now there are more road accident victims and pupils with cerebral palsy.

"We have also seen more youngsters who join the school at the age of 11,12 or 13 who have been in mainstream education but cannot cope," said Mr Hart.

"After a little while you don't see them as disabled children. You don't see the wheelchair - you see the child."

One of the greatest pleasures for the 60-year-old is meeting ex-students who have learned to live independent lives, find jobs, get married and have children.

"I saw one ex-pupil last week who was hardly able to move and she is now married with three children and you would not know there was anything wrong with her.

"We always focus on the children, identify their strengths and build on them.

"Someone once told me that I run the school like an African village. That is true - it is like an extended family."

Many of the pupils are seriously ill and during his time as head teacher Mr Hart has been to more than 50 funerals.

"I don't see that as necessarily morbid," he said.

"I remember one boy who had muscular dystrophy who knew he was going to die young, but enjoyed life to the full."

Mr Hart thanked his wife Pat, mother Dorothy, daughter Rebecca, 30, and son Andrew, 27, for all their support, as well as the Daily Echo.

The school won a £23,000 minibus, donated by Ford, in a competition in the newspaper four years ago.

Now Mr Hart is looking forward to spending more time indulging in his two favourite pastimes - cricket and orienteering.

Jonathon Howells, former assistant head of The Castle School in Newbury, will take over at the Cedar School in September.