A deputy headteacher will be waving goodbye to her school for a second time when she retires after three decades of teaching.

For Olive George, who teaches at Nelson Primary School, in Whitton, has already left the school once before, having been a pupil from 1949 to 1955.

She said the school had been an enormous part of her life, having also sent her four children there.

But after 34 years of teaching at the school, Mrs George decided it was time put down her books and retire.

She said: “It will be the end of a long and very much enjoyed career in teaching for me.

“It is a really happy and supportive place to be, and we have lovely children, parents and staff.”

Mrs George, who was born in 1944 in Whitton, knew from a young age she wanted to be a primary school teacher.

Following her three-year training at Redland College in Bristol, she returned to the borough to teach at Trafalgar Junior School, Twickenham, in 1965.

She married in 1967 and stayed at the school for a further three years, until the birth of first child.

Three more children followed in quick succession, and all attended Nelson Primary School, in Nelson Road.

In 1977, Mrs George decided to return to her career in teaching, joining the staff at Nelson School, first as a part-time teacher and then building up to become a full-time class teacher.

In 1994 she was appointed to the position of deputy headteacher, and was put in charge of music in the school.

Mrs George has also played a key role in the school’s centenary celebrations this year, which included a jazz picnic and the chance for past pupils to take a tour around the building and catch up with old acquaintances.

The dedicated teacher, who will retire at the end of the summer term next week, is looking forward to spending her retirement surrounded by her 10 grandchildren.

She said: “I would like to take this opportunity of saying a big thank you to all the children, parents and staff, past and present, for all their support to me over the years.

“What better time to retire could there be than at the end of the term in which Nelson Primary School celebrated its centenary celebrations.”