Children turned the tables on their head teacher Norman Fowler when they wrote a special song to sing to him on his retirement from St George's RC Primary School in York.

Mr Fowler, 57, has written numerous musical productions for pupils during his 15 years at the school, and is known for his extra-curricular career as singer Steve Cassidy.

When he retired yesterday, children sang a song they had written about him and presented him with a golden book called Memories Are Made Of This. Each child had drawn or written about Mr Fowler.

Last night staff and governors surprised him with a secret This Is Your Life-style recording made by Radio York's Elly Fiorentini who visited the school to talk to staff, children and parents.

And on Sunday a special mass of thanksgiving was celebrated at St George's RC Church, followed by a reception in school which was attended by friends and past-pupils. There Mr Fowler was presented with a digital camera.

Mr Fowler, whose parents ran a fish and chip shop in Burnholme, grew up in York and spent his entire teaching career in the city. His father, Frank, was a light heavy-weight boxer, and his brother, also Frank, played rugby for York.

At the age of 17, he made a record with York's John Barry and sang on the show New Faces three times, but teaching took over after he completed a training course in London.

His first job was back at St Aelred's RC Primary in Tang Hall, where he had been a pupil. He then went on to become deputy head at St Wilfrid's RC Primary in Monkgate, where his son, Damian, and daughters, Abigail and Louise, were pupils, before moving to St George's in Fishergate.

Mr Fowler said he now planned to spend more time writing songs and musical productions.

He said: "I've loved being at this school, working with wonderful children, wonderful parents and great staff. It's such a time-consuming job, you don't have as much time as you would like for other things, but I will always be interested in education in this area and in St George's in particular.

"I will miss the children most. They just raise the spirits, they are so willing to share their hopes and dreams and aspirations and are so full of joy. They are standing on the threshold of life and to be able to open a few doors and windows into life for them has given me a real sense of privilege."

The new head of St George's will be Helen Glendinning.