Almost twenty years ago, Clyde Valley’s latest Headteacher took to the stage in one of his first formal roles to deliver a speech at that year’s prize giving. Twenty years on, as the session draws to a close, he takes to the stage one more time – to bid a final farewell to the school, pupils and staff that he has come to love. He has given so much to the school and has asked only for respect in return; a term that he himself has promoted at all times and, in the last few days, has seen returned to him tenfold.
Ian Sommerville began his role as Headteacher of Clyde Valley High School on the 30th of May 1995. Starting out his career as an English teacher, he took over as Headteacher from Jack Gallacher on his retirement, who had lead the school from its opening in 1992. In that time he has seen hundreds of pupils pass through the gates of Clyde Valley and develop both as individuals and in their learning. He has dedicated much of his life to the school and has been responsible for some of the biggest changes and achievements within the school, including leading the pioneering introduction of Skillforce and delivering some of the highest attainment results in the history of the school. Yet, Mr Sommerville would be the first to emphasise that none of this would have been possible without the hard work and commitment of all of the staff and pupils alike. The Clyde Valley family. He is very much the head of our family and always ready to do his part – including the ritual humiliation of being gunged at charities week! A perfect send off for his retirement.
If Mr Sommerville’s dedication to the school was ever in doubt, you would only need to look in his office for evidence to the contrary. On a shelf in his office, Mr Sommerville keeps an archive of all of the events and achievements of the school and its pupils – some 41 volumes in total. Yet perhaps the most interesting book of all is one that sits alone at the very start of the shelf. This is Mr Sommerville’s personal archive, which records his own special highlights. There on the very front page of the book is a copy of his application for the job of Headteacher along with the original letters offering him the position and announcing his appointment. The fact that, almost twenty years on, Mr Sommerville still keeps these treasured items is testament to the unwavering pride that he has for the school. Anyone who has ever spoken to Mr Sommerville for any length of time cannot fail to agree.
Many will have heard him say that he feels he is the luckiest Headteacher in the world and his personal archive is proof of that belief. Yet the true ‘lucky’ ones have been those members of staff and those pupils who have had the honour of learning and teaching with him. Galileo once declared “You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself” and this is something which Mr Sommerville has worked tirelessly to fulfil. Through his leadership he has left a legacy that will not be easily forgotten. The ‘Sommy Years’ certainly have been some years.
The 6th years recently presented Mr Sommerville with a copy of D.H Lawrence’s poem ‘The Best of School’ as a retirement gift. The last line reads, “my time is hidden in theirs, their thrills are mine.” Your time and achievements at Clyde Valley, Mr Sommerville, are far from hidden and plain for all to see. Yet, you will leave a mark on each and every one who has known you and you will be remembered and respected for years to come. We thank you for all that you have done for our Clyde Valley family and truly wish you well as you enter your retirement.
