Two teaching assistants who have worked a combined total of more than 50 years at the same Northampton primary school are retiring this week.
Anne Cox and Jane Moore, have worked as teaching assistants at Chiltern Primary School in Duston for 29 and 25 years, respectively.
Penny Howell, headteacher of Chiltern Primary, said: “Anne and Jane have given more than 1,000 children the best possible start to their primary education.
“They are a very important part of Chiltern life and will be much missed.”
Mrs Moore and Mrs Cox said they were both going to miss “everything connected with the school”
Mrs Moore said she was looking forward to having holidays in term time with her husband while Mrs Cox said she would enjoy being able to spend more time gardening.
On Tuesday, July 23 from noon, a farewell picnic will be held at the school when past and present pupils will be able to say goodbye to the two women. People are invited to bring a rug and lunch to school.
Meanwhile, Gill Powell has retired from working at Highfield Stables Playgroup in Kingsthorpe after working in childcare in Northampton for more than 30 years.
Mrs Powell began working at the Clinic playgroup in Welford Road in 1976 and later took over Highfield Stables Playgroup which at the time was situated in the grounds of Highfield Special School in the same road.
Mrs Powell campaigned to find a way to ensure the playgroup could continued and managed to get a relocation to a room at Pastures Community Centre.
Her daughter, Sarah Newman, said: “I’m sure many people will be sad to see her go. It is difficult for her to walk around the local shops without stopping to chat to and old colleague, parent or child.”