FROM teaching sport, business, or even ice dancing, Andrew Panayi will be a familiar face to thousands of former Billingham students.
The teacher turned manager at SRC Bede Sixth Form has helped to inspire generations of students. Now, after 23 years with the college, he is retiring.
“I didn’t expect to be here for such a long time,” he said. “But Bede is definitely a special place. And, just like the students, it has helped my career to develop.”
Originally, a professional ice dance coach from London, he decided to make the move when a coaching job came up at the Billingham Forum.
He said: “I guess it’s not that often you hear of people moving from the bright lights of London to the bright lights of Billingham.
“The plan was just to see how it went for a six months,” he said. But after meeting his wife, Elaine, Andrew chose to settle down in Billingham and 36 years later he is still here, having built his career and life on Teesside.
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