A devoted teacher who has taught at the same school for 35 years has retired.
Julia Littler stepped down from her post at Moor End community primary school in Oswaldtwistle on Friday at the end of the spring term.
The mum-of-one, who has taught children in every year group over her three-decade career, was presented with gifts and cards at a special assembly.
Julia said she is now ‘part of the brickwork’ at the New Lane school.
She told the Observer: “I have always been here and I think it’s because there is such a superb community from the parents to the teachers and children. It’s just fantastic.
“I love when I see parents coming back who I taught with their children as it reminds me what they were like at school. Sometimes you can recognise it in their children.
“I have already made arrangements to come back to work with the reception and year six classes.”
Julia, formerly of Oswaldtwistle and now living in Clayton-le-Moors, said she is also looking forward to going on holiday soon to Portugal, gardening, creating her own allotment and walking her dogs.
Headteacher Andy Martin said she will be a ‘big loss’ to the school.
He said: “She has been a teacher with us for that whole time, teaching every age group during those years and more recently nursery and year one. Julia has also taught many of our parents too.
“She could have retired three years ago but she enjoys and loves it so much.
“She is just all about the children and that’s her real strength and why she has kept going. She intends to come back and volunteer and help with trips. She is a specialist art teacher and will return voluntarily to do work with different classes.
“We had an assembly where parents came up but, typical Julia, she didn’t want a massive fuss so it was a bit low key.
“All the children have done cards for her and she’s had loads and loads of gifts off parents. They have also put lots of comments on the school’s Facebook page too.
“In her retirement she is looking forward to walking her dog, visiting art galleries and taking lots of holidays. The staff are sad to see her go as not only has she been a wonderful colleague but also a good friend.”
Mr Martin said Julia and the staff also celebrated with a meal after work on Friday.
