A PRIMARY school teacher from Thornbury will leave the town after three decades for the sun-drenched plains of Spain.

Paul Leonard, who has taught at St Mary's Primary School for the last 30 years, is set to embark on a new challenge as he begins a new job at an international school in Murcia in September.

The father-of-two will relocate to Cervantes's country, where he will be director of primary at a three to 18s school.

The traveller told the Gazette this new stage in his career and decision to live and work abroad came as no surprise to his colleagues.

"They know me and that I would do things like this. They are not surprised. I did a year teaching abroad in Australia in 1997.

"I wanted to finish my career and do something exciting abroad. It's a challenge that I'm looking forward to."

The 55-year-old added: "It's going to be a very different school with pupils from three to 18. I've always wanted to work at a school like that. It brings a good community feel."

Mr Leonard quit his job in the computer industry in 1982 and retrained as a teacher.

His first post was as a part-time teacher at St Helen's Primary School in Olveston.

He then transferred to St Mary's Primary School, where he has been working ever since.

"The computer industry was so impersonal," he added. "People told me I would be good at teaching and I gave it a go. It's been really fun and it still is."

Although eager to start over again on the continent with his college lecturer wife Josie Martin, he said he would miss St Mary's Primary immensely.

"I will miss the care and consideration that everybody has given me at the school," he said. "I'm going to miss the children and watching them grow and learn."

Spanish may prove a slight hurdle at first but since the school is taught in English, Mr Leonard said he was confident his language skills would improve in time.