Retired Watford teacher Keith Sampey launches art exhibition

Keith Sampey, 74, was the headteacher of Alban Wood Junior school from 1989 to 2005.

The father of two and grandfather of four is showcasing his work as part of a “bucket list” since he was told he only had six to nine months to live in February, when he was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer.

Keith Sampey was the headteacher of Alban Wood Junior school from 1989 to 2005 (Image: Keith Sampey)

He launched his exhibition on Sunday, March 26, with people from throughout his life attending.

Keith said: “It was an overwhelming experience, it was something else.

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“People from the last 50 years, from my college and university days came along as well as people I taught with in the early years.

“Friends also came from Switzerland and France.”

Keith has been drawing since he was a child (Image: Keith Sampey)

He added: “Having this sea of people stand in front of me was like having my life in front of me, all the memories, it was quite amazing.”

But for Keith, who still lives in Watford, he realised during the launch that the students who he taught for such a large part of his working life were not in the audience.

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He said: “It would be really nice if any of my previous students who remember me would like to come along to the exhibition.

Keith's exhibition is being held until the end of April (Image: Keith Sampey)

“We all have our passion outside of our professional life and I have been drawing since I was a child. It would be great for my former students to see what I have been doing all these years.”

The exhibition, which is showing 20 of his pieces, is being held every Tuesday from 2pm to 4pm at Fellowship House Gallery, 136A Willifield Way, Hampstead Garden Suburb until the end of April.

Keith said he would love to see some of his former students at his show (Image: Keith Sampey)

Keith will not be there on April 4, but he will on the last three Tuesdays of the month.

His time working at the school, now called Alban Wood Primary School and Nursery, was filled with many fond memories.

Keith said: “But for me it was about the ethos of the school that I really remember – it was about the community, which we were very much the hub of.”