Fashion students at a creative arts school were thrilled when legendary designer Jimmy Choo made an appearance at their graduation ceremony in south Bucks.

Dato Professor Jimmy Choo, who is the honorary President of the International School of Creative Arts (ISCA) in Wexham, attended the students’ graduation ceremony at Colston Hall in Gerrards Cross this week, where he handed out certificates and scholarships to students.

Professor Choo has been attending the ceremonies since the school was founded in 2008, and is retiring from his role this year after eight years as honorary President, saying it is now time for someone else to take the reins.

Speaking to the Bucks Free Press, he said the reputation of the school means the standard of students and their work “gets higher and higher” every year.

He said: “A lot of the students are very talented.

“A lot of international students come to the school, not just local students. Every time I’m here the feedback I get is that they really enjoy it.

“Some of them I see and I say to myself it’s amazing compared to when they started. I definitely feel in my heart that once they’ve trained here and go to a university they want to be studying at, their teacher there will be amazed at what they’ve learnt from this school.”

ISCA’s academic support co-ordinator, Jane Roy, described Professor Choo as motivating and inspiring, saying students “immediately pounce on him” when he visits due to his “warm and open” nature.

Professor Choo, who is a British Council alumnus, added that while the students all study different creative subjects, they work well together.

He said: “They all concentrate on what they are, whether they are fashion or architecture or fine arts students. But more importantly they co-operate with each other, they love each other and respect each other.

“I think whatever you do, whatever you want to be, we all work closer together. Everyone is connected to each other and share each other’s views.”

Speaking about his retirement, Professor Choo said: “I’ve been doing this for eight years. I think it’s time for someone else to take my job here because I do a lot of travelling.

“I’m a British Council alumni. So a lot of the time they want me to travel to different places. We talk about education, promote UK education around the world and that’s what I want to do now.”

He described south Bucks as a “relaxing” place, adding: “It’s great for students. The air is very purifying here. This is very important for students. I could buy a house and stay here.”