THE long-serving principal of Rease-heath College, Vic Croxson, is taking early retirement.

Mr Croxson, who has been at the college helm for the past 17 years, will leave at Easter.

His announcement comes at a time when the college, at Nantwich, is on the crest of a wave, with a recent Ofsted report puttingittopof thetableforlandbased colleges throughout the UK.

It has been recognised as a Centre of Vocational Excellence in food chain technology, providing a specialist learning centre for skills in agriculture and the dairy and food processing industries.

During Mr Croxson's time in office student numbers have risen from 1,700 in four subject areas to 6,000 in 17 subjectareas, withstaffincreasingfrom 130 to 300.

In that time levels of funding have risen from £2.4m to nearly £9m.

Mr Croxson said: 'It has been a privilege to be principal at Reaseheath College. I have been fortunate to have led such a responsive team of staff through a period in which great changes have been possible.

'I have also appreciated the enormous support I have received from the college board and the industries which the college serves.'

His expertise in education and rural affairs will not be lost, as he will continue to carry out many of his existing roles at both local and national level.

Earlier this year Mr Croxson was appointed Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Cheshire. He is also vice-chairman of the Cheshire Agricultural Society, deputy chairman of the Cheshire Rural Recovery Task Force, senior vice-president of the Rotary Club of Nantwich, vice-president of the Cheshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs and a member of various national and local committees of the Learning and Skills Council and Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for land-based industries.

He has also recently been selected as a consultant for the Department for Education and Skills' new standards unit.

The clerk to the college board of governors, Geoff Oakes, said the board is to advertise for a successor to Mr Croxson.

Added Mr Oakes: 'He will certainly be a hard act to follow.'

Mr Oakes said the board may also have future vacancies, and that he was keen to talk to potential governors, particularly those with expertise in marketing, personnel, legal matters or business studies.