THE principal of Blackburn College paid tribute to retiring chairman of governors Derek Hall after more than seven years' service -- and 3,700 formal handshakes.

Principal Sheena Ewing led the thanks to Mr Hall at a special retirement lunch. She praised his attitudes to further education and his consistent lobbying for the college.

"We have worked particularly well together and always found the destination between management and governance which is a wonderful attribute," she said.

Mr Hall described his colleagues as a superb team and the role of chair of governors as "responsibility without remuneration".