Valete- (11) Mr Chris Mellers (Chaplain and former Head of Religious Studies)

The final five members of staff to feature in our 2013-14 'Valete' series are distinguished retirees, who all have the particular distinction of at least 15 years' service to Bablake.

The first of the five, Mr Chris Mellers, who returned this year in a new role as Chaplain, while kindly completing the teaching of his GCSE Religious Studies group, joined Bablake in 1992 as Head of RS. Over the last 22 years, he has proudly seen the subject go from strength to strength, a fine legacy.

Beyond the department, Mr Mellers' participation in school life has been extensive. He has run our Community Service Programme, contributed to General Studies, offered Law extension sessions, organised assemblies and our annual carol service, liaised with our Parents’ Association and been a key organiser of International Week and the annual Christmas Fayre.

As well as organising a regular programme of theatre visits for pupils and parents from Bablake and the local community, Mr Mellers has always been involved in the pastoral care of pupils, latterly as a 6th Form Tutor, and then this year he has led the spiritual life of the school community as part-time Chaplain.

We wish Mr Mellers a very happy and healthy retirement, and we are very grateful to him for his commitment to Bablake and its pupils. We suspect a lot of his retirement will be spent relaxing in France but we look forward to welcoming him back to future school events. He may even wish to return for our Christmas or Summer Senior Citizens' Party as a guest rather than as a member of the organising team!