CROWDFUNDING to give the caretaker at Kingsbridge Community College a secret retirement present has raised more than £1,300.

Wayne Grills set up the Go Fund Me page when he learnt that Clive Hay was retiring from KCC after nearly 30 years.

Wayne, who attended KCC, said: ‘Hundreds of people know Clive, he’s been a continuous figure around the school site for nearly 30 years. It seems fitting that everyone is given the chance to say thank you for his service.’

Starting off with the aim of raising a few hundred pounds, the total is now at £1,315, with an aim of raising £1,500 by the end of September when Clive retires.

111 people have donated to the fund so far, with many leaving messages of congratulations or wishes for the future.

Laura Partridge wrote: ‘Happy retirement you absolute legend’, Pandora Worden said: ‘Enjoy your retirement Clive, you are an amazing caretaker. KCC and all of us were lucky to have you!’ while Susie Jones wrote: ‘Will miss your smiley face at work Clive! Good luck’.

One message from Rich Baker apologised for being a pain while he was at KCC. He wrote: ‘I see this as my way of apologising for all the times I was a little s*** bringing my walkie talkie in to school and tuning it to your channel to have a chat or call you to fake jobs, sorry. Have a happy retirement you deserve it.’

Fiona Wilson summed up what many of the posts said about Clive: ‘Thanks Clive. You’ll be missed by generations of children. Enjoy your retirement.’Wendy Ohlson, assistant principal at KCC, said: ‘It is wonderful that Wayne has thought to do the Facebook giving page to recognise the many years service Clive has given to the college. He is a real character and is so fondly remembered by many students over the years for his chats, cheery smile and Leeds United hat!! ‘So many former students have wanted to wish him well on his retirement at the end of September which speaks volumes about his impact on their memories of school days at KCC. He will be very shocked and touched by the overwhelming messages of good luck left on the Facebook page. KCC will not be quite the same without him.’

If you would like to donate to the fund for Clive, the link is: www.gofundme.com/clivesretirement, but remember to keep it a secret, like Wayne said: ‘Not a traditional Kingsbridge secret... but a real one. Let’s not spoil the surprise.’