Three headteachers of Helston Community College joined last week for a concert to mark the departure of current head Dr Pat McGovern.

Freddie Worrall and Dennis Johnson, the two other headteachers since the college became a comprehensive school in 1972, joined Dr McGovern for the event last Thursday.

Together the three men have led Helston’s only secondary school for a combined 42 years.

Also attending the concert, organised by Dr McGovern’s PA Michele Swan and put together by the school’s musical director Clive King, were almost 200 staff, governors and invited guests, including the town’s primary school headteachers.

People Dr McGovern has worked with over the last 11 years, as well as friends from over his 40 years teaching, travelled from afar for the occasion.

It was compered by deputy headteacher Wayne Jenkins and one of the assistant heads Nigel East.

Among those performing were students from the college’s wind band and two |jazz bands.

Departing headteacher Dr Pat McGovern said: “It was wonderful to see the levels of musical talent of display, that I’ve had the privilege to watch develop over the years.”

It included the return of former student Claire Louise Auguste, after four years at the prestigious Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, where she has reached the highest levels of musical performance, who played the flute.

There were also performances from some of the up and coming students, including year eight pupil Phoebe Savage, aged 12, “singing beautifully” accompanied by her father on guitar. Although only meant to sing one piece, the audience reaction was such that she ended up singing three songs, including Emilie Sande’s Read All About It and a song from Adele.

Even Dr McGovern himself got up on stage, for a surprise set playing his accordion alongside fiddler Hudson Swan.