STUDENTS, staff and alumni joined together at Bohunt School last Wednesday to celebrate the long-standing career of head of PE, Paul Barry, who will be retiring after working at the school for almost four decades.

Mr Barry started his career at the school in September 1980, and has taught more than 8,000 students across his 37 years and acted as head of house for 35 years.

Bohunt hosted an alumni basketball game in honour of his commitment and contribution to the school, students, and the sport. Paul started the basketball development programme in the mid-eighties to allow individuals and teams to develop their sporting potential.

Sporting achievement is one of the many features that Bohunt School prides itself on, with a number of former students who have since gone on to receive athletic scholarships to study abroad and play basketball, after benefiting from the Bohunt basketball programme. Notable names include James Cooper, Will Neighbour, Eoghann Stephens, Chris Scarlett and George Ivens.

The first Bohunt School team to become county champions was in 1996, and they then went on to qualify for national finals, finishing as the fourth best team in the country the following year.

Setting a very high precedent, the team established a pattern of success, with the following year groups also achieving county success.

Reflective of the high sporting standard driven by Bohunt School, there have been more than 30 county titles won by the school.

A key member of the first successful 1996 team was Jason Brooks, who became the first basketball role model for students to aspire to, representing England and Great Britain under-16s.

Jason then became the first Bohunt student to gain an athletics scholarship to an American university to play basketball, attending Princeton University, New Jersey.

The most successful team in Bohunt’s history has been the team which graduated in 2010, who were national finalists for two years running.

Paul said: “We started a basketball development programme which would allow individuals and teams to develop their potential. Bohunt have managed to send many individuals on basketball scholarships to the USA, a life changing opportunity for the players concerned.

“To be able to welcome several of these players back to the alumni game was very special indeed.”