A TEACHER who has inspired thousands of Kendal pupils is retiring after 40 years in the town.

Martin Cope joined Kendal Grammar School for Boys in 1978 to teach history, geography and games before being allocated to the newly-formed Kirkbie Kendal School two years later.

He continued to teach history and began to earn internal promotions as time went on.

Among the roles of responsibility he fulfilled over the years were head of history, head of human and social studies, five terms as acting assistant head, assessment manager and extended school co-ordinator.

"I never thought that I would stay teaching in Kendal for forty years," said Mr Cope, who has been teaching part time for the last seven years.

"Now is the time to stop. The lure of the golf course has become too strong. However, I am proud of my teaching career, and wish Kirkbie Kendal School all the very best in the future."

In 1995 he volunteered to teach A Level Law, as KKS looked to broaden its Sixth Form curriculum.

Then between 2008-12, he obtained a Law degree with the Open University.

Phil Hyman, the school's head teacher, wished Mr Cope well for the future.

“I have had the honour of being head teacher for 14 years of Mr Cope’s teaching career," he said.

"He is an ideal colleague, warm, friendly, hard-working and an excellent teacher. His nature is very self-effacing – he won’t tell you about the thousands of students he has inspired and the hundreds that have gone on to history and law degrees but that is what has done.

"We wish him all the best in a long and happy retirement that no doubt will have plenty of golf and cricket involved.”