TODAY is a big day for thousands of Hampshire teenagers as they get their A-level results – but it’s also a very special, and poignant, occasion for a popular Basingstoke college boss.

For the final time in nearly two decades as principal, Stephen Sheedy will be at Queen Mary’s College to congratulate, and support, his A-level cohort of students before he retires at the end of this month.

As previously reported in The Gazette, Mr Sheedy is leaving QMC after 18 years in the top job and a 40-year teaching career.

A retirement party was recently held for him at the college, in Cliddesden Road, and scores of friends and colleagues, past and present, turned out to give him a memorable send-off.

The 61-year-old began teaching at secondary schools in Warrington, before moving to Basingstoke in April 1995 to take up the principal’s post at QMC.

Mr Sheedy has spearheaded the college’s transformation over the years, overseeing several major building projects including a £13million new science centre called The Spectrum which opened in 2010.

He previously told The Gazette: “I have done 40 years and it seemed like long enough. I have gained an enormous amount from it.

“I have been very privileged to have a job like this at QMC. It’s been very rewarding. It’s a lovely place to work.”

Mr Sheedy was presented with a framed historic map of Basingstoke to mark his retirement. The gift was given to him by the board of governors of the QMC College Foundation.

The foundation also thanked Mr Sheedy for the support he has given to thousands of young people in education.

Taking over from Mr Sheedy in September will be Ali Foss, the current deputy principal, who has worked at QMC for 20 years.