POPPIE Jones has been a familiar sight for pupils both in the science department and playground at John Kyrle High School.

She has just celebrated 40 years at the Ross-on-Wye school, where she first joined in January 1975.

When she started as a senior laboratory technician she looked after a science department of just four teachers and over the years she has helped transform it into a department with 14 specialist teaching staff, two technicians and three dedicated teaching assistants.

At a celebratory lunch organised by the school, Mrs Jones reflected on working under six headteachers and five heads of science, and how she continues to enjoy her job.

Head of science Frazer Smith said: “Mrs Jones is a very remarkable lady. She has an incredible work ethic and always provides excellent support to students and staff alike.”

Mrs Jones continues to oversee the lower school yard every lunchtime.

She reminisced that many years ago she had to tell a pupil he mustn’t run to get to the lunch queue and added: “That young lad was Dave Boyd, now deputy headteacher at the school.”