THE image of "old chalky", of Dennis the Menace fame, may be long outdated.

But there can be few to equal Astley's Graham Campbell for matching a modern schoolchild's view of what makes a "cool" headmaster.

The 80-odd pupils at the rural primary school on the edge of the Worcestershire countryside are no doubt alone in this country in having a head who is an international canoe competition instructor.

There can be few who also regularly enjoy lessons paddling on a river.

Ofsted inspectors had many complimentary things to say about the school when they last reported in May.

One of them was the benefit to pupils of their headteacher's passion for canoeing.

Mr Campbell, who joined the school's teaching staff in 1992 initially as a part-timer, is in his second term as the school's head.

His higher education subjects were, perhaps inappropriately, philosophy and politics. When he trained as a teacher he knew right from the beginning he enjoyed most the atmosphere of primary schools. So he went on to specialise in music (he plays piano and guitar) and in physical education.

He spent 14 years "having a change" working as a furniture maker before returning to teaching in Worcester and then becoming beguiled by the village school atmosphere at Astley, and no doubt by the proximity of the River Severn and Astley Burf.

Mr Campbell finds his profession and the school curriculum for outdoor activities fits well with his waterborne interests.

Two bellboats - bellboats being a double canoe catamaran-style arrangement - comfortably take a class of nine to 11-year-olds on fieldwork trips dealing with subjects like nature and geography.

He also runs an after-school group called the Astley Paddle Club which has collected some 20 canoes.

He finds the activity is an ideal aid for encouraging different talents in schoolchildren while also teaching teamwork and an interest in the environment.

"I have found it appeals to some children who aren't sporty in other ways. One child who disliked sports as such is 14 now and in the junior international squad. He will probably carry on improving because it is that kind of activity where endurance is an important quality."

The canoeing interest came from his daughters, now aged 23 and 27. When the family lived in Pershore, they joined the world famous canoe club at Fladbury on the River Avon.

After small beginnings as a British Canoe Union coach, he now instructs youngsters taking part in international races in France, Belgium, Germany and Holland.

His weekend diary involves a lot of travel, continual training which includes gym work, running and swimming and competition commitments all over Britain.

It is a big responsibility now that canoeing is a well-established Olympic sport - as every child at Astley knows!