LONG-serving teacher Clive Burgess asked for donations to the Will Mackaness Fund instead of presents when he left Wey Valley School and Sports College.

He presented a cheque for £300 to Will’s mum and fellow teacher Pam Govier after it was raised by staff to mark his departure.

Mr Burgess, 57, who was head of the upper school, stepped down from Wey Valley on Dorchester Road in Weymouth after 28 years.

He said that it was privilege to work with all of the staff – including teaching assistants, office staff and others – at the school.

“Everybody who works with the youngsters at Wey Valley deserves the highest praise. They work so hard and often get very little praise.

“There is a big team effort at the school and that was borne out by the amount of money raised for the Will Mackaness Fund.”

Former Wey Valley school head boy Will died in August 2008 aged 16 after battling a brain tumour.

He died at home minutes after receiving his GCSE results and after fighting the final stages of his illness to attend his school prom.

The school hall at Wey Valley was named in Will’s memory and a fund was set up in his memory to allow students to take part in watersports.

Mr Burgess said: “Will was an outstanding and courageous young man.

“He typified the type of youngster at Wey Valley.

“Will was a very successful head boy and very well respected by his peers. He loved the outdoors and watersports. I can’t think of a better way of completing my career at Wey Valley than being part of that.”

Mr Burgess aims to help set up the fund as a registered charity.

He added that anyone who wanted to contribute to the Will Mackaness Fund could do so at the Wey Valley school.

Mr Burgess, who is closely involved in the Dorset Expeditionary Society, also aims to continue working with young people.

His time at Wey Valley comes to an end after he started at the school in 1981 when it was known as Broadwey Secondary Modern School.

  • Support the fund by making cheques payable to ‘Will Mackaness Fund’ and taking them to the Wey Valley School and Sports College.