Staff and stakeholders said farewell to an educational charity’s founder and chief executive at an emotional event this week.

After leading Inspire Schools and the KM Charity Team for two decades Simon Dolby left the charity to join Hythe-based construction company Streetspace.

Mr Dolby said: “The leaving event was very emotional for me and I was blown away by the number of gifts and the wording on a special trophy presented to me. It is something I will cherish.”

The wording on the trophy reads: ‘What you leave behind is not what is engraved but what is woven in the lives of others. You inspire us to dream more, learn more and be more. You stood with us through 20 years and your leadership is what has given us wings.’

Over the last two decades the charity has generated more than seven million green journeys to school of Kent pupils and their families, encouraged 30 million minutes of reading, helped raise £1 million for good causes in the county, helped 17,000 children pass road safety skill tests and processed 6,600 nominations for Kent Teacher of the Year Awards.

Mr Dolby will continue as an ambassador of the charity.

The vacancy of CEO is open to applications until Thursday, September 12. To apply, visit the charity’s recruitment webpage at www.kmcharityteam.co.uk/about/vacancies