Fond goodbye for Mr McDuff
Outgoing headmaster Mr McDuff was honoured with a special picnic in his penultimate day with us.
The much-loved head, who is leaving his post for a headship role in the United Arab Emirates after seven years, was presented with a number of gifts at the event, which was held on Thursday, July 6.
Sitting with wife and Year 6 teacher Mrs McDuff, he first listened to Deputy Head Alison Hind’s speech about what he has meant to her personally and Rydal Penrhos in general during his time here.
The departing headmaster, who also served as Acting Head at the school’s senior site prior to the appointment of Simon Smith, was then given a special leaving book which featured messages from all year groups with pictures of each individual class.
He then received a large colourful canvas painting with a message of good luck at the bottom, with Year 4 pupil Cieran Milligan providing a framed painting of the school itself.
The final gift was a suitcase complete with personalised name and Rydal Penrhos crest, and then Mr McDuff then gave a small speech on both his excitement in starting his new posts and how much he is going to miss the “brilliant” staff and pupils at the Prep School.
There was a further surprise later on that day courtesy of Communications Assistant Dean Jones, who put together a special farewell video featuring a number of messages from everyone associated with the school.