Retiring after 33 years’ hard work

11:29am Thursday 1st May 2008

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DAVE Feaver, who has taught thousands of students in his 33 years at Pershore College, is to retire.

He started at the college in 1975 and was appointed head of Horticulture in 1996.

Over 33 years, working with four principals, he has seen considerable changes in both the industry and the college, the most recent being the merger between Pershore College and Warwickshire College.

"It was a merger that was not without controversy but, able to see the bigger picture, Dave worked hard to ensure a smooth transition that brings with it the considerable investment needed to ensure the industry's training needs are met in the future," said college spokesman Stefan Drew.

Since the merger, Mr Feaver has worked with Warwickshire College on the redevelopment of the Pershore campus.

This has included drawing up specifications for the new glass- houses and biomass boiler as well as plans to replace existing accommodation hostels and teaching areas with new sustainable facilities for which investment was negotiated as part of the merger.

Mr Drew said: "With sustainability always high on his agenda, Mr Feaver's work in recent years contributed to the Pershore Group of Colleges winning the 2007 Green Gown Award as Britain's greenest college."

Mr Feaver was specifically involved in rainwater harvesting from the new library's roof, which is used to irrigate the commercial plant nursery and further recycled.

The project helped towards the award of the Horticultural Centre of Vocational Excellence status and also led to the establishment of an employers' group at the college. chaired by Professor Stefan Buczacki, installed as Pershore's first Honorary Fellow last autumn.

During Mr Feaver's time at Pershore, and in large part influenced by him, the college has held two national plant collections, is the only college-based RHS Centre, has regularly won RHS medals, has a national reputation for excellence and, more recently, an outstanding Ofsted report.

"Further change is inevitable, but Dave leaves behind him a horticultural legacy and reputation second to none," Mr Drew said.