A north-east PE teacher has retired after almost four decades dedicated to training both children and adults.
Shielding restrictions in place as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has forced Alex Wasinowicz, 60, into leaving his position at Northfield Academy earlier than expected.
But the experienced tutor said he had not ruled out returning if conditions improve and the schools still needed him.
Mr Wasinowicz worked as a physical training instructor in the British armed forces before going on to teach children and adults martial arts like kickboxing and boxing.
This later progressed to him going back to university so he could teach in schools.
Last week he visited Northfield Academy to say his goodbyes and drop off cards for staff.
Mr Wasinowicz said he owed his path into teaching to his parents.
He said his father came from Poland and his mother from Italy and that as a youngster he often found himself in trouble at school and struggled to reach his academic potential.
After being pushed by his teachers at Perth High-School he joined the military, serving for eight-years and even undergoing training for the special forces.
It wasn’t until 20-years later Mr Wasinowicz found out that his old form tutor had escaped from the same labour camp as his father during WW2 and pushed the then teenager to achieve more than he was at the time.
He said: “I owe where I am to my upbringing, as a child I got into a lot of trouble and if the people around me hadn’t pushed me I wouldn’t be where I am now.
“It was always my hope that I could do for children what others had done for me.”
Leaving the Army, he made a bid at carving out a fighting career for himself teaming up with legendary boxing promoter Tommy Gilmour before the duo set about teaching others to box.
Mr Wasinowicz closed the book on his own career following a sparring session with multiple light heavyweight world champion Antonio Taver – an encounter that required six stitches and him being told he was too old to be granted a boxing license.
Undeterred, it was the push he needed to take his years of teaching in the military and martial arts and go back to university.
Graduating from the Central Lancashire University at the age of 45, he taught in England for five years before taking his trade back home to Scotland.
He said: “My circumstances changed and I had to come back to Scotland, both Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire councils helped me to come back and train me to teach children in Scotland.
“The commitment made by Aberdeen City Council’s signing of the covenant has helped me teach up here at some brilliant schools.”
For the last 10-years he has served as a PE teacher for Dyce Academy, Northfield Academy, St Machar Academy, Oldmachar Academy and his old school Perth Highschool for three years.