Retiring trio bid farewell to Glade Infant School

Teacher Sandra Dean and teaching assistants Rachel Price and Ann Sampford left The Glade Infant School on the last day of term.

They said their farewells at a joint assembly at which their colleagues and pupils presented them with gifts for their retirement.

The school itself will be 'retiring' soon with an amalgamation planned with nearby Michael Ayres Junior School in a new 11m building in September 2010.

Mrs Dean has worked at The Glade for half its 44 year history. She joined in 1986 as a part time member of staff and became full time the following year.

She said: "This is very much a community school. Everyone joins in with things. The children are great and they make you happy to work with them and their parents are so supportive.

"I'm really sad to go because I shall miss the children but I won't miss the paperwork. There have been so many changes in education in the past few years."

As the school's science and environment co-ordinator, the 59-year-old from Eastergate has overseen the transformation of the school's grounds.

The relatively bare patch of land when she arrived has become adorned with fences and trees.

"It will be so sad to see it all go when the school is demolished," she said. "But the new school has got a lot going for it. It will be a new start building on what we have already learned."

She plans to use her retirement gardening and making the most of her new spare time.

Mrs Sampford (63), of Rose Green, joined the school 20 years ago because her son went there. "I stayed because it was so nice here," she stated.

"It's been a very varied job and every day is different. I want to go now to remember the school as it is."

She was given a range of presents, such as gardening vouchers and a photo frame, and intends to spend her retirement gardening and enjoying days out.

Mrs Price joined The Glade in 1990 as a volunteer because both her children attended there before she took up a paid position.

A sugarcraft enthusiast, she intends to spend her retirement on hobbies of crafts and gardening, for which she was given vouchers, and seeing more of her grandchildren.

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