CLUTTON CofE Primary School has a new chair of governors, with a royal seal of approval.

Simon Dorset MBE has taken up the role, after previously working for The Grange School in Hartford.

And before moving into the world of education, Simon spent 25 years in the British Army with the Royal Military Police,

"I started my career in Berlin, while the wall was still up," said Simon.

"As part of the military police, we would man the checkpoint known as Checkpoint Charlie in the British sector of West Berlin, and proving access along 'the corridor' to what was then West Germany.

Then I spent six years in Northern Ireland undertaking counter terrorism work. I served in Germany policing a garrison of 15,000 while the soldiers were away in Bosnia, ensuring their families were safe.

"It was in Germany that I met my wife Wendy who was teaching there. It was very much a little England in the middle of Germany.

"For a period of nearly three years, I commanded the Close Protection Unit, providing teams of armed bodyguards to protect senior military officers and British Ambassadors in high threat places such as Beirut, Bogota, Algiers, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen."

Simon was awarded his MBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace in recognition of his work with the Royal Military Police, and was later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, leading a regiment of 350 men and women in Northern Ireland, before finally leaving the Army in 2007 to focus more on family.

It was at this point that Simon had his first experience of education management.

"Initially on leaving the army, I indulged my passion for motorcycling and trained as an instructor," he added.

"I became the chair of governors at Minster CofE Primary School in Warminster, and later, when we moved to Hartford, the operations director for The Grange School in 2010.

"At The Grange, I ran the business of the school, everything from building programmes and health and safety to staffing and catering."

"While The Grange is an independent school and Clutton Church of England Primary School is not, the principles are the same. Provide the best education that you can.

"You have to apply the same business principles to make the school successful, such as spending money efficiently, planning effectively and finding the best solutions."

He continued: "In my role as chair of governors at Clutton Primary School, I will be looking to ensure we are best placed as a school to deliver what parents want, a quality education for their children," added Simon.

“Clutton is a small school with a strong reputation for academic success, it is time to grow on this and develop.

"I look forward to working alongside Zoe Carciero [executive], governors, staff, our families at Clutton and the wider community as we begin on this exciting journey."

Clutton CofE Primary School is holding a community coffee morning on Monday, February 24, from 10am to 11am, for the community to meet Mrs Caricero and Mr Dorset.

There will also be craft activities on offer.

The event is for members of the Clutton community, new starters for reception 2020 and prospective families for September 2021.