A teacher who dedicated half her life to a school in Twickenham retires this week, with pupils and teachers giving her a surprise send-off.

Pam Walsh, who taught at Newland House School, in Waldegrave Park, for 32 years, is seeing out her last day at the school this week.

As part of a surprise assembly on Tuesday, July 3, students lined-up outside the assembly hall and sang a song specially written for Mrs Walsh as she was shown into the hall, which had been decorated yellow and red - the colours of her favourite football team, Watford Football Club.

Mrs Walsh, from Berrylands, said: “My heart was absolutely pounding as I saw everyone – the children were so excited.

“It’s just amazing looking back and thinking for half my life I have been at this school – it’s fantastic.”

She said she stayed at the school for so long as it had such a special ethos, and the pupils and staff were so nice.

Her first plan with her new retirement status was to take her three grandchildren on holiday to Jersey with Mr Walsh in the summer holidays.