Rare papal honour for retiring head teacher

Long-serving head teacher Eamonn Scott (right) wearing the Benemerenti medal presented to him by Father Paul Brindle

A ROMAN Catholic head teacher from Royton was left stunned when he was presented with a rare papal medal on his retirement.

Eamon Scott, who headed St Vincent’s RC Primary School in Rochdale for 26 years, was surprised by the Benemerenti Medal at a special mass to mark his leaving.

The medal, which was founded by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832, is presented for long and and exceptional service to the Catholic community.

Mr Scott (60), a father of four who was born in Oldham, was also deputy head at SS Aidan and Oswald’s RC School in Royton from 1974 to 1981.

He lives in Royton, and has also been a head teacher at an RC school in Wigan. He was also invited to receptions at Highgrove, the home of Prince Charles, on two occasions — in 1999 and 2004 — because of the “outstanding” Ofsted reports received by St Vincent’s.

Mr Scott, a member of SS Aidan and Oswald’s Church, Royton, said: “I had no idea the medal was on its way, and I was shocked and stunned at the mass.

“I am going to miss the school a great deal.”

Mr Scott, who was presented with the medal by Father Paul Brindle, the St Vincent’s parish priest, plans to celebrate his retirement by taking a cruise with his wife Liz later this year.