Mr Kevyn Barnikel with Deputy Head (Pastoral), Mr David Edwards

Popular Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools caretaker, Mr Kevyn Barnikel, had a fantastic presentation this afternoon to mark his retirement.

Mr Barnikel’s association with the schools dates back to 1959.

Deputy Head (pastoral), Mr David Edwards, delivered a lovely speech, hailing Mr Barnikel’s newfound fame on social media and reading out some of the wonderful online messages from parents, colleagues, friends and former pupils.

Mr Barnikel was presented with a Monmouth School for Boys’ 1st XI cricket cap and a framed certificate from The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers.

And the boys made the send-off even more special, presenting Mr Barnikel with a cricket bat that they had signed.

Mr Barnikel, who lives in Monmouth and is well-known in the town, has been caretaker at the Hitchcock Sports Pavilion for the past 12 years.

He was previously the caretaker at the old site of The Grange for 26 years.

A keen cyclist and former cricketer, who once took six wickets in six balls playing for the town, he first joined the schools in 1959 to work on the groundstaff.