A DINNER lady has retired after 37 years working at a secondary school.

Yvonne Hebbes worked as an assistant cook and a dinner lady at St Mary's Roman Catholic High School in Lugwardine.

Headteacher Clive Lambert said: "She has been at the school through the presence of four headteachers, goodness knows how many staff and thousands of pupils.

"Her earliest pupils will now be in their 50s.

"A school institution, she was able to manage the children in the dining hall by herself, much to the amazement of a visiting local headteacher who expressed his admiration.

"She seemed to know everyone and was universally loved by the pupils."

On her last day at work she was brought to school in a chauffeur driven car instead of her bicycle.

Mr Lambert added: "The dining room will simply not be the same without her."