SCHOOL’S out forever for two maths teachers who have chalked up 54 years at Port Glasgow High School between them.

Marcus Barry, who was the principal teacher of maths and Stephen Beck, who was a maths teacher and the principal teacher of guidance, say it was emotional to walk out of the school gates for the final time.

Marcus, 58, who lives in Cloch Road with his wife Elizabeth, said he loved his 29 year career at the school.

He said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Port High.

“The pupils have been fantastic over the years and the staff are great.

“It was quite emotional to leave.”

Marcus, who has a 28-year-old son, Christian, said he enjoyed making maths fun for pupils.

He said: “The most important part of my job was to take away the stigma that it’s difficult.”

Mr Beck, 59, says he will also miss teaching at Port High after 25 years at the school.

He said: “It’s not really sunk in yet that I’ve retired.

“It was quite difficult to leave.”

Stephen, who also taught at Greenock Academy for eight years between the mid-80s and early 90s, says it was great to see pupils flourish over the years.

He said: “To be a guidance teacher I went through a lot of training.

“Seeing some kids really struggle before getting through it and going off to university or college was great.

“It’s a really good school and the staff are great.”

Stephen, who lives in Campbell Street in Greenock, is married to Yvonne, who works as a guidance teacher at St Columba’s High in Gourock, and the couple have a son called Nathan.

Stephen is now looking forward to seeing a bit more of the world during his retirement.

He said: “I would like to do a bit of travelling.”

Both Stephen and Marcus were keen to thank all the school pupils and staff for their kind wishes.