Few retirees will be lucky enough to have a farewell song written in their honour. But that was the gift with which North Bute Primary School head teacher Brian Davidson was serenaded at an emotional end-of-term service this week, making clear the high esteem in which he is held by the school - and in which staff and pupils hold him in return.

The song in question was actually a re-wording of John Denver's classic hit Leaving On A Jet Plane, re-titled Leaving Without A Blood Stain, performed by the school's choir and guitar club, with new lyrics by Jill Brandon-Turner helping raise both laughter and lumps in throats at the service in Port Bannatyne's village hall on Thursday.

Mr Davidson's 21 years as North Bute's head teacher were sketched out by his colleague Georgeann Martin, who recalled the excitement which swept the staff room back in April 1987 on hearing the news that the new man at the top was "tall, dark and extremely handsome" - just the man to put up those extra high wall displays!

Mrs Martin recalled how Mr Davidson had organised North Bute's 150th birthday celebrations in 1995, and had led the school through a highly successful inspection in 2002, and spoke warmly of how he had struck just the right balance between being a very capable leader and a fun member of staff at the same time.

In typically modest fashion, the man of the moment replied: "The school motto is 'A Family of Families', and while some people may say it sounds trite I think it's true - we all feel part of an extended family, and I'm going to miss that very much.

"It's the people that make the school - I've been very lucky to have worked with so many excellent colleagues and so many supportive parents over the years, but it's the children that I'm probably going to miss the most.

"The school has been a huge part of my life and I don't know what I'm going to do without it."