A POOLE school has renamed its assembly hall to honour the contribution made by former teacher and volunteer Don Maidment over the past four decades.

Pupils, staff, governors and members of Don Maidment’s family gathered at a special assembly at Baden Powell and St Peter’s Middle School in Parkstone to celebrate his achievements during 20 years as a teacher and 21 years as a volunteer.

Mr Maidment, 78, started working at Baden Powell School in 1972 and worked as a teacher, year leader and head of RE before retiring in 1992. Among those to be taught by him was current head teacher Paul Howieson.

Even after retiring, he has continued to go into school every day, assisting teachers and running the school handbell club. He has no plans to stop this volunteer work but the school, which is on the verge of changing to a junior school, decided they wanted to formally thank Mr Maidment for his efforts.

During the assembly, he was shown tributes from former pupils, who recalled his love of storytelling and described him as a “legend” and a “national treasure”. Pupils also watched a pre-recorded interview with Mr Maidment, in which he said: “It’s just the whole atmosphere of school life that I like. I’ve been in it 42 years and it’s part of me, it gets me up in the morning.”

The AFC Bournemouth season ticket holder was presented with a signed Cherries shirt, before it was revealed the hall had been renamed the the Maidment Hall.