By Saul Cooke-Black

A POPULAR teacher said goodbye to pupils and staff at Park Infant School in Stonehouse after 22 years of service last week.

Mrs Sue Charlton, 60, joined the school after spells teaching at Sharpness and Robinswood primary schools.

A teacher all her life, Mrs Charlton says she will miss the day to day interaction with pupils but is looking forward to spending more time with her eight-month old grandson, Charlie.

Her fondest memory is playing the keyboard with pupils when it snowed at Christmas one year.

Teaching children aged 4 to 6, Mrs Charlton says she has particularly enjoyed teaching children to read.

“There is no more important thing to teach, as reading unlocks the world of learning,” she said.

Head teacher Rachel Edwards said: “Sue has given so much to our school community during the past 22 years.

“She has earned the chance to enjoy some private time but we hope she will be a regular visitor to our school in the future.”

Sue has passed down her teaching qualities to daughter Lois, who now teaches the same age group as her mother did at Field Court school in Quedgeley.