Carlisle-born Nigel Rice remembers the day he got his first job in teaching 43 years ago - and he's been at the same school ever since.

Now, though, Mr Rice says the time is right for someone else to lead day-to-day operations at Lime House School, near Dalston, where he has been headteacher since 1985.

Mr Rice, who was raised in Harraby, has announced he will retire as head at the end of the academic year.

He, together with his wife Diane and business partner Jackie Fisher, will remain as owners of the independent school.

But Mr Rice now says "new blood" is needed after serving for more than 30 years as its head.

Mr Rice, who lives yards from where he grew up in Petteril Bank Road, Harraby, has written to the parents of his 138 pupils - 105 of whom are boarders from overseas - to inform them of his decision.

The 64-year-old said: "We thought it was time for new blood and new ideas."

Mr Rice was educated at Carlisle's Petteril Bank Primary and Harraby Secondary Schools.

He went to Ponteland to train as a teacher at Northumberland College, where he specialised in geography.

"I got the job here by chance," he recalled. "I played cricket for a team called Hawkesdale at the time. It's Carleton now.

"They played their matches at Lime House and there was a guy called Peter Ingrams who was owner at that time.

"He asked what I was doing and I told him I'd qualified as a teacher and he asked if I wanted to work there."
That was in 1974 and Mr Rice became a resident housemaster and head of geography.

He later went on to complete a degree in geography and maths with the Open University and a master's degree in education management.

He remains passionate about the school.

"I enjoy the fact that you are with the children virtually 24/7," said Mr Rice.

"You obviously deal with them academically but you also see them mature and develop in so many different ways.

"You are very much more involved and for most of them it is like a second home.

"You are creating that family atmosphere for them because 33 weeks out of 52 a year school is their home."

Lime House School has transformed Mr Rice's life.

It is where he met his future wife Diane.

The couple went on to have two children - son Michael, 29, and daughter Katie, 26 - who were both educated at the school.

Mr Rice worked for three different owners at Lime House School before he, his wife, and the school's financial expert Jackie Fisher were invited to buy it in 1996.

He had to sell his house to help raise the capital needed.

Since then the couple and Ms Fisher have weathered tough times emerging from the 2008 financial crash.

"The last two years has seen things bounce back though," said Mr Rice.

"Our boarding is full and we've got a waiting list."

Many of the school's pupils are from South East Asia - but for the first time Lime House School has welcomed children from Tanzania and Nigeria in Africa.

The Middle East is also an emerging market, Mr Rice added.

Advertisements for a new headteacher are to appear by the end of the month, with interviews expected to take place from mid-February.

Mr Rice says hopes are that a new head can be appointed by Easter to allow them time to take up the role in September.

Mr Rice will continue to ensure the school meets requirements for the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

Lime House School was established in 1899 in Wetheral and moved to its current site in 1946.

The school employs 52, including 25 teachers.

It is currently regarded as the best small independent school in England for success at A-level.