A LONG-serving teacher was sent off into her retirement with a fanfare from the Band of the Parachute Regiment.

Christine Rudland has taught at Montgomery Infant School, in Baronswood Way, Colchester, for 34 years and has been headteacher for the past 13 years.

The school takes a large proportion of its children from families of soldiers at Colchester Garrison, and a farewell party was thrown for Mrs Rudland with full military honours.

With all the children waiting on the playground, she walked out to a rousing rendition of Congratulations by the band, accompanied by clapping and cheering. Wiping tears from her eyes, she asked: “What’s this all about?” as the band struck up cheerful tunes for staff and children to dance to.

Mrs Rudland told assembled children, staff and governors they had all been “perfectly amazing” over the years.

“I had no idea this was going to happen, when I should know everything that goes on at this school,” she said. “The school has been my life and I do not know what I will do in my retirement.”

Garrison commander, Colonel Tom Fleetwood, presented Mrs Rudland with a plaque and said: “I would like to thank you for all your work, teaching thousands of our children.

“It’s a fantastic record of service, which all of us in the garrison are thankful for, and we wish you all the best in the future.”

Sally Leung, who will take over as headteacher after Easter, has worked with Mrs Rudland for 32 years. “She has been an absolute joy to work with and for her to leave is like losing part of me,” she said.

Mrs Leung said that with 85 per cent of the school’s children from military families, and half leaving every year, working at Montgomery was “a unique challenge”.

Mrs Rudland made her final exit in the cab of a military MAN support vehicle for a tour of the garrison.