A Warminster school has honoured its longest serving governor by naming one of its buildings after him.

Burt Paul’s service at The Avenue began in 1974, when he was the town council’s representative on the school’s board of governors.

The 85-year-old is retiring after a 36-year stint, in which time the school has grown considerably.

To honour Mr Paul the school has renamed its annexe, which has four classrooms, changing rooms and a computer suite.

He was instrumental in gaining £750,000 from Wiltshire County Council in 2002 for the annexe, which replaced huts.

“When I first joined the school the headteacher was Frank Drayton and it was a basic primary school which hadn’t long been opened,” Mr Paul said.

“It was built to cope with the increase in military children coming to the town.

“The current head, Colin Zimmerman, was my recommendation as headteacher when he joined 27 years ago. In my report I was he was a ‘suave, young London headteacher’.

“He and I have worked together superbly. We’ve built up the school into the great establishment it is.

“We’ve always been very fortunate to have superb staff. My individual responsibility has been for staffing and staff pay so I’ve dealt with them all over the years.

“It’s a very friendly school and our children respond to that.”

Mr Zimmerman said: “Eight years ago the building replaced a group of white huts which were always wet from condensation, had no central heating and were just awful.

“Burt Paul kept writing to people at County Hall, to the local MP and everyone he could think of to improve the huts. He managed to persuade the county council to build the new annexe and we’re all very grateful to him.”

Mr Paul, of Broxburn Road, was touched that Welsh slate had been chosen for the plaque, which reads The Burt Paul Annexe and was made by local firm Curtis and Sons.

He said: “I’m greatly impressed, it’s wonderful. It’s a great honour.

“The slate is Welsh slate and I’m very pleased because I’m a proud Welshman.”

Peter Chrisford will be new chairman of governors.