A Veteran school governor has urged others to follow his lead as he celebrates four decades in the role.

For forty years Berry Grove School governor Geoff Charman has given up countless weekends and evenings to diligently serve generations of North Watford children.

Mr Charman, a 71-year-old father of two, has worked under a total of 21 education secretaries and six prime ministers since he was first elected to the board of governors at Lea Farm School (absorbed by Berry Grove in 2005) in 1968.

But as governments have come and gone the role of a school governor has, according to Mr Charman, remained unchanged: to help produce well-rounded citizens with a keen sense of civic responsibility.

He said: “I became interested in education when my own children were coming up to school age - I wanted to make sure they and all other children had the best education possible.

“I wanted them at least to learn to respect other people and other people’s property. Not everybody will be a genius but everyone can be a good citizen. Schools have changed and governments have changed but I believe we are still trying to achieve the same things.”

Schools cannot function without a strong board of governors. As a collective group, they have responsibilities for matters such as planning the school’s long term future, allocating budgets and appointing senior staff.

This week, Hertfordshire County Council launched an urgent appeal to meet a shortfall in governor numbers - a trend reflected nationwide.

Mr Charman added: “If you asked me how many hours I’d put in over the years I wouldn’t know where to start. It can be hard work but I wanted to be someone who gave things back to the community rather than just taking from it.

“It’s a shame that some people can’t give even 40 minutes of their time for this type of thing.”

Mr Charman’s current four year term ends next year. He is unsure whether we will stand again.

Headteacher Chris Kronda said such dedicated volunteers were fundamental to the running the 550 pupil school.

He said: “A good governor must have a good relationship with the head; they must challenge and question his decisions. They are a sounding board.

“It’s a huge responsibility but we need more school governors.”

Anyone who is interested and has between six and eight hours a month to spare can find out more by contacting School Governors’ One-Stop Shop on 020 7354 9805 or email info@sgoss.org.uk