End of an era at county schools

Roy Baldwin, Maggie Johnson, Tony Curran, Janet Brown and Suzi Macintyre marked their final essay and checked their last maths formula at the Hereford comprehensive at the end of term.

Mrs Johnson and Mr Baldwin's are the longest serving members of the retiring group after both starting their teaching duties 30 years ago.

Mr Baldwin began at the Boy's High School, which is now St Thomas Cantilupe CE School on Widemarsh Street, with Mrs Johnson 'up the hill' at the Girl's High School.

At its beginning the school was split into two parts and Mrs Brown remembers the constant problems of getting from the upper school to the lower school on busy market days.

The teacher, who devoted 24 years of her life to Aylestone, said another part of school life she will gladly miss is the sound of the ringing bells.

Ms Macintyre could not wait to stop marking, but admitted she would miss the 'dramatic and musical' productions from the past 18 years.

And although deputy head Mr Curran is stepping down from his teaching role, he is the one member of the group who will remain on the school premises, working in administration.

6 AND it's goodbye from him and it's goodbye from her as head teacher Eddie McEnery and deputy head Margot Brumbill retire from St Martin's School, Hereford.

Mrs Brumbill is leaving after 33 years at the school - many of the pupils she has taught recently are the children of those in her classroom at the start of her time at St Martin's. Mr McEnery is a more recent addition, having been head for the past 12 years.

A party for staff and governors to say their goodbyes was held last week, and the final day of term featured a special farewell assembly with presentations to both Mr McEnery and Mrs Brumbill of albums containing a selection of the children's work.

6 TEACHERS will often tell their pupils that there is no such thing as a job for life and they can expect many changes during a modern working career. But two teachers at a Bromyard school have shown that it is not always the case by clocking up half-a-century of service between them in the one place.

Alan Flaxman retires after 32 years on the staff of the Queen Elizabeth High School. Since 1973 the English teacher has seen four heads and thousands of children come and go. Those he taught in the early years are now coping with greying heads, spreading waistlines and the onset of middle age.

PE teacher Gary Kimber has hung up his training shoes after 18 years in the PE department at the school. During that time he has also been active in music and drama at the school.

6 RICHARD Osborne has bid a fond farewell to the school of which he was head teacher for 12 years.

At a special leaving assembly last Friday, Mr Osborne explained how important the pupils were to Madley Primary school.

"The children are the heart of the school and I have had a real lump in my throat when I have seen them over the past few weeks," he said.

Mr Osborne is heading to Osbaston School in Monmouth and to mark his move across the border pupils presented him with a Welsh dictionary and flag.

Year 6 pupils also marked their departure at the assembly.

"You are at the end of a chapter in your life," Mr Osborne told them.

"And about to open another."