Retiring Cathy ‘loved every bit’ of teaching

Cathy Hall, 59, will spend her last day at Pontefract Larks Hill, 35-and-a-half years after she first joined the school.

Mrs Hall, who has taught children in years one, two, three and four, said: “From being a little girl, I always wanted to teach, but I never thought I would be able to do it.

“So I always used to say I would work in Tesco when I grew up.

“But I did it and I have loved every minute of it.”

Mrs Hall, who lives in Whitwood, Castleford, has a passion for gardening and hopes to spend her retirement tending to hers at home and continuing to play an active role in Pontefract in Bloom.

She will also return to the school to help out with its gardening club.

Mrs Hall, who has also taught in Ackworth and Crofton, said: “I shall miss the staff and I shall miss the children immensely.

“It is wonderful to see their smiling faces every day.

“I will be crying buckets tomorrow. It will be very sad to go but everyone has to at some time and I’m looking forward to spending more time with my husband at home.”

The school’s headteacher Alison Smith said: “Cathy has been a member of staff at our school for over 35 years, which is most of the time this school has been open. She is a well loved and respected teacher who has taught generations of pupils.

“She has contributed to the school gardening club and the wider community through Pontefract in Bloom which has involved children making a positive contribution to the local area.

“She will be missed but we hope she will be able to keep up her gardening work and retain the link with other community activities.”