School's longest-serving member retires aged 75
Patricia Hampton, 75, was the longest-serving staff member and "cornerstone" at Sharnbrook Academy in Bedfordshire, attended by Olympic runner Paula Radcliffe.
"I'm going to feel very strange come September. I've got a few little holiday breaks, but it will be strange to not set my alarm on 31 August," she said.
Mrs Hampton said her role as reprographics manager – printing and preparing teaching resources – had bloomed in the 1980s then reduced more recently as technology developed.
"Everything was done in reprographics: printing, binding, laminating etc. It was always very busy.
"Two and a half years ago reprographics completely changed when photocopiers were installed around the school and staff were able to do their own copying," she said.
Mrs Hampton recalled the giant Xerox copying machine the school bought in 1981.
"I saw the film 9-5 which had the same copier as us – the scene with papers flying everywhere!"
She said her favourite part of the job was "making sure everybody gets everything they need - just pleasing people, really".
"I thought after 50 years it's time to retire, give someone else a chance. Staff are becoming more independent and doing their own stuff now."
She was given a surprise send-off party in the staff room.
"I've had an ex-student and drama teacher come in and it's so emotional," she said.
Former colleagues took to social media to praise Mrs Hampton, recalling "the miracle-maker of reprographics".
One said: "No job was too complicated. She made anything and everything happen."
Principal Clare Raku said: "Pat has been an integral part of Sharnbrook since its very first day in 1975 - a presence so constant, supportive, and dependable that it's difficult to imagine the school without her.
"Her quiet efficiency, good humour, and tireless commitment behind the scenes have left a lasting legacy."
Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
You might also be interested in
Dinner lady retires after 54 years
Teacher to retire after 40 years at same school
Teacher's guard of honour as he retires after 51 years
Related internet links
Sharnbrook Academy
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tributes paid after world's longest-serving KFC worker dies
Tributes have been paid to the world's longest-serving KFC employee who has died after working for the company for nearly 50 years. Pauline Richards, who was known by many as Miss KFC, first started working in the fried chicken chain's outlet in Taunton, Somerset, in 1978. She began her career as a cleaner but went on to take on almost every role in the store, including team leader and manager. Taunton Town Council described Mrs Richards as one of the town's 'most loved residents' and said she would be missed. 'All of us at Taunton Town Council are saddened to learn of the passing of one of Taunton's most loved residents, Pauline Richards, aka Miss KFC, the world's longest-serving member of KFC staff and a friendly, well-known face in our town,' the council said. 'She was an excited and incredibly deserving recipient of one of our civic awards back in March this year. 'Our thoughts are with her family and all of those who knew and loved her.' A KFC spokeswoman added: 'We're deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Pauline Richards. 'We are supporting Pauline's family, who have asked for their privacy to be respected during this difficult time.'
New York Times
3 hours ago
- New York Times
A Mill Town Lost Its Mill. What Is It Now?
The first thing the mill workers noticed on what they later deemed 'Black Monday' was the series of dark S.U.V.s pulling up near the paper mill, at the heart of Canton, N.C. The mill's hulking towers and plumes of smoke were visible for miles, rising above the Pigeon River and the trees that stretched like green ribbon across the mountains. Jody Mathis, who managed the mill's warehouse and coached the high school football team, was called to a meeting just after 5 p.m. When he arrived, men were streaming out of an earlier meeting, their faces twisted in pain. 'We're done,' Mr. Mathis, 52, recalled a friend saying. He replied, 'Done? What do you mean?' Then he noticed that all around him were burly men in their overalls weeping. Like a metronome, Canton's paper mill set the rhythm of life here for some 115 years. Residents in neighboring communities said they could smell the mill from as far away as Asheville, 20 miles east. It was putrid, like rotten eggs. People in Canton learned not to complain; to them, it was 'the smell of money.' Curious children, hearing their parents repeat this, buried their faces in dollar bills to check. If the odor kept visitors away, nobody minded. The locals were proud of the mill, which employed hundreds in town and allowed its residents to build homes and send their children to college. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
The hotspots for Japanese knotweed in Somerset
JAPANESE knotweed season is underway, and North Somerset residents are being urged to check for local infestations. According to invasive plant specialist Environet, there are 583 verified sightings of Japanese knotweed in Somerset, with 0.36 cases per square mile. The figures come from Exposed: The Japanese Knotweed Heatmap, an online tool that tracks more than 100,000 verified sightings across the UK. The map allows the public to search by postcode, view infestation risk levels, and submit new reports with photos for expert verification. Here are the top Japanese knotweed hotspots in Somerset for 2025: 1 Bath - 159 2 Portishead - 37 3 Clevedon - 30 4 Weston-Super-Mare - 24 5 Keynsham - 21 =6 Taunton - 15 =6 Winscombe - 14 8 Wincanton - 12 9 Radstock - 11 10 Nailsea - 11 Japanese knotweed, introduced to the UK in the Victorian era, spreads via underground rhizomes that can grow up to 3 metres deep and 7 metres wide. While serious structural damage is rare, the plant can lower property values and lead to disputes. A DEFRA report estimated the annual cost of tackling knotweed in the UK at nearly £250 million. Environet Director Emily Grant said: 'By mapping verified sightings, we're helping people understand the level of risk in their local area and encouraging early identification and treatment.'
