Before Kents Hill Junior School opened in Benfleet, a new team of staff was installed, starting with a newly qualified teacher.

That same teacher, Mrs Lynda Glynn, 58, has just retired after working at the school in Kents Hill Road for 34 years.

Grateful pupils and colleagues staged a series of special occasions to give her a triumphant send-off.

Head teacher, Miss Deborah Ross, said: "Mrs Glynn has been a member of our senior management team and our literacy co-ordinator.

"The governors, local education authority and staff had a presentation for her and she was given a certificate to mark her 34 years of dedicated service, and various bouquets.

"We also presented her with a teak lounger chair for her garden and a substantial amount of cash for garden tools.

"Mrs Glynn was the first person to be appointed to the new school before it opened in 1966.

"She was even appointed before the new head teacher. She has taught literally thousands of children, and is totally dedicated to this community."

Mrs Glynn, who has seen generations of the same families pass through her classroom doors said: "Times have changed in education, with things like the national curriculum, but we have kept the same traditions of high standards and caring for the children."

Mrs Glynn trained at a college in St Osyth, Clacton, before arriving in Benfleet.

She plans to pursue her hobbies of drawing and gardening.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.