A GREENOCK primary school has bid a fond farewell to a much-loved deputy head teacher who has spent more than three decades teaching in the town’s east end.

All Saints Primary deputy head Anne-Marie McAvoy received a fantastic send-off from staff and pupils who thanked her for her years of dedicated service to local young people.

Anne-Marie first started teaching in Inverclyde at St Kenneth’s in 1988, before moving on to Holy Cross and spending a year at a school in Paisley before returning to Greenock.

She has been deputy head teacher at All Saints for around a decade and has worked tirelessly to support a number of head teachers in that time.

(Image: Duncan Bryceland)

She told the Telegraph she was looking forward to finally putting her feet up, but said she would miss the school after her retirement.

She said: “This job’s all about families and looking after the young people, it’s just been an honour to be part of that.

“As a young teacher I was delighted when someone came in and said I’d taught their big brother or their big sister, then I was horror struck when they’d said I taught their mum or their dad.

“I was saying to the parents that’d I’d better retire before somebody comes in and says I taught their granny!

“I’ve been given lots of gifts and flowers this week which has been absolutely lovely.

“All Saints has always been a fantastic, welcoming place for anyone who happens by.

“There’s always a cup of tea and listening ear for anyone who needs it, whether that be one of the children, a parent or sometimes even grandparents.”

Anne-Marie says she is planning to take a trip around Scotland following her retirement and is looking forward to spending more time with her family.

(Image: Duncan Bryceland)

She said: “I’ve got two boys that are grown up now and Mr McAvoy has already retired so we’re just going to be touring a wee bit of Scotland during the holidays.

“My son will be 21 in September so after then we might go for a wee treat holiday and not have to pay the exorbitant prices, we’d have to pay during the school holidays!

“I’ll absolutely miss the school, the children, all the colleagues I’ve worked with and depended upon, the friends that I’ve made here, and just being part of this wonderful community.

“I’ve got a wealth of experience with different head teachers and different ways of looking at things and I’ve learned from every one of them.

“I really feel as though I’ve belonged here, I’ve been taken into people’s lives and there’s a huge trust they’ve given me.

“They’ve trusted me with their children, and they’ve trusted me when things go wrong with their lives.

“I’ve tried to help the best I could and found solutions for many of them thankfully.”