After 23 years at The Meridian School in Royston, George Meliniotis retired as assistant headteacher on Tuesday – but he will be returning. In September, Mr Meliniotis will work in a part-time non-teaching capacity as the school s network manager. He star

After 23 years at The Meridian School in Royston, George Meliniotis retired as assistant headteacher on Tuesday - but he will be returning.

In September, Mr Meliniotis will work in a part-time non-teaching capacity as the school's network manager.

He started at the school in June 1980 as a teacher of physics with responsibility for new technology after spending some time in industry.

"At the time, desktop computing was in its early stages and in 1980 we acquired one Research Machines 380Z desktop computer for the whole school," he said.

From then on, the developments in technology and the progression to computer networks kept him, he said, "technically challenged".

Talking about his career at the school, Mr Meliniotis said: "The ethos and atmosphere of Meridian have made it a very enjoyable and rewarding time."

He left the school for a while in 1995 to "explore other avenues" but returned three years later.

Mr Meliniotis became assistant headteacher in 1999 and in recent years he has been responsible for steering the school's application as a specialist college in maths and computing.

"The last few years have been just as enjoyable and challenging, particularly with the school gaining specialist status," he said.

Headteacher Dr Mike Firth said: "His contribution to Meridian has been enormous, both in terms of his teaching and in his role of steering many recent developments.