PARENTS’ evenings are often a trip down memory lane for David Bell as he has usually taught both generations in the family.

The Henry Box School deputy headteacher, who is retiring after 30 years next week, believes it is a good sign when he is remembered by past pupils.

He said: “I’ve taught a lot of the current students’ parents so at parents’ evenings I have a lot of contact with former students.

“We end up reminiscing from when they were at school. We all have stories about our school and all remember teachers from our school days.

“If any of us as teachers make a small impact on just some students and they remember that then it’s a really good part of what we do.”

Witney resident Mr Bell, who will turn 60 on the last day of term next Friday, joined Filton High School in Bristol in 1977 before moving to Henry Box in January 1984.

He is married to former banker Gail Bell.

His daughter from a previous relationship, Kate Fraser, 30, was an English teacher at the school between 2007 and 2012 before moving to Florida, while his son Jos, 28, lives in Canada and works in advertising.

The geography teacher, who also manages the sixth form, has taught Belle actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw, London 2012 Olympic torch designer Jay Osgerby and West End playwright Duncan Macmillan.

His retirement comes at one of the saddest moments of his career after 14-year-old pupil Liberty Baker, one of his Geography students, was killed after being hit by a car on Monday, June 30.

Mr Bell said: “It was such a tragedy. She was a really, really good student and a joy to teach.”