End of an era...

The end of an era and the start of my next adventure. Wednesday 24th July 2019 marked the end of my 32 years in teaching and the beginning of my new career as crew, deckhand, store keeper, pot washer and general dogsbody!!

I had not wanted a big fuss. No big performance with invited guests. No reunion of all colleagues past and present. I can’t think of anything worse. Just a simple goodbye from the current pupils, parents, staff and governors. I visited the people I had crossed paths with and who were important to me. People who had supported and guided me in difficult times and who I had laughed with during the fun times. But, given the choice, I wanted to walk away quietly.

However, as I had been head at Heathlands for 10 years, it was not possible to walk away with nothing. The children had all written messages to me and the collection was spent on an amazing photographic record of life at school. I was also presented with a beautiful Pandora bracelet complete with a blue and silver globe, a compass and, of course, a butterfly bead – the school logo is a butterfly, so it is tradition to present leavers with something showing a butterfly.

My final ‘assembly’ was perfect. Each class performed a specially prepared song…all linked to sailing of course: How Far I’ll Go (from Moana), Yellow Submarine, A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea, Baby Shark, Row, Row, Row Your Boat, What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor. It was exactly what a primary performance should be: words changed to suit the situation,  teachers miming the words and actions at the front, technology not quite working and no performance would be complete without children becoming completely stage struck and forgetting where to stand and what to say, despite having practised it perfectly 10 minutes previously. Those in the business will know exactly what I mean. Perfect!!

It was humbling to hear the kind words from so many people and receive so many wonderful gifts. So much thought was put into them. I had enough flowers to open a florist, enough wine/bubbly to launch a fleet of ships and so many useful gifts to take on my travels.

Thank you so much to everyone! You will not be forgotten!!

PS: No end of an era would be right without my favourite school pudding on the last day…cornflake tart and custard!

Many to Helen, Julie and Dawn in the kitchen for the delicious desserts.