Britain's longest serving headmaster has announced he is retiring.

Francis Howard, who has been in charge of Yateley Manor School for 41 years, is finally stepping out of the hot seat in July next year.

Joining him in retirement is his wife, Delly, the school’s bursar. Together they have contributed 75 years of service to the school.

Mr Howard took over the reigns in 1967 from his grandmother, Sybil Fyson, founding head of the school 20 years before.

Since becoming headteacher of the Reading Road school at the age of 20, Mr Howard has spearheaded some monumental changes.

In 1970 the school became a charitable trust and in 1983 girls were allowed to attend lessons on campus.

It changed from a boarding school into a day school and raised the intake from 140 to 500 pupils.

Mr Howard said: “It was a fairly typical and traditional boys prep school, but we decided the future lay in co-ed teaching. We opened a nursery at the same time.

“At the time people wondered whether it was the right thing to do, and in retrospect it was absolutely the right thing to do!”

The couple, who live in Odiham, intend to spend their retirement visiting family in various parts of the world.

Their first stop will be Australia to visit one of their two sons and then on to New Zealand.

“I will miss all the children, staff and the parents,” Mr Howard confessed. “I have a lot of fond memories. After all, the school used to be my home.

“I will now have a grown-up gap year and I am looking forward to it.

“It was so successful when it became a day school the governors needed more space, so I moved out.

“I decided to leave at the end of the next school year to give governors time to find someone new.

“I have been a teacher for most of my life and it is now time for a change.”

Keith Murrall, academic deputy headmaster, said: “He has led the school for many years.

“When he made the announcement I was very shocked. He will be missed, I have worked with him for 16 years.

“Rationally, you know its going to happen, but emotionally, after so long, it comes as a surprise.”

The governors have begun their search for a new leader.

Mr Howard added: “We are looking for the person to fit Yateley Manor, not the other way around. This is an exciting time for staff, pupils and parents.”