A TEACHER has retired after bringing 25 years of laughter to the classroom.

And tears of pride were brought to Jackie Page’s eyes when a former Honley Junior School pupil returned to tell her she inspired her to become a teacher herself.

Jackie, of Birkby, grew up in Huddersfield but when she qualified as a teacher left to take up a post in Brent, London.

She returned to her roots a year later, taking on a teaching job at Almondbury Junior School for 10 years before landing a job at Honley Junior School.

There she remained for 25 years, passing on her passion for the subject English to children throughout the school.

The senior teacher has also been heavily involved with the management side of the school, helping to improve school life.

Jackie has dedicated hours of her own time to organising school sports, like rounders and netball, and being instrumental in keeping an annual school trip to an activity centre going.

Former pupils returned to pay tribute to their much-loved teacher.

They included Jenny Bray, now a Barnsley-based teacher, who told Jackie she was inspired to go into primary school teaching because of her and the laughter she brought to the classroom.

Jackie has decided to give up teaching full time to spend more time with her family and pursuing other interests.

Headteacher Stephen Price said Jackie will be hugely missed by pupils and staff.

He said: “Jackie has a real love of literature and really passed this onto the students, our reading results at the school are very high and she has definitely contributed towards this.

“She has also brought lots of fun and laughter into our school and on behalf of everyone in Honley I would like to thank her for that.”

Children and staff bid farewell to three women retiring from their school.

The staff members were presented with bunches of flowers on their last day at Dryclough Infant school, Crosland Moor.

Jennifer Burling, senior assistant head was connected with the school for 34 years.

The mother-of-four’s children went to the school.

Headteacher Bernie Boryslawskyj said: “She has been absolutely excellent, I couldn’t have asked for a better assistant.”

Kath Nutton, lunchtime supervisor, was with the school for 23 years.

Mrs Boryslawskyj said: “She has a huge amount of dedication and is a real stalwart and is really lovely with the children.”

Pat Heywood, cleaning supervisor, was with the school for some 20 years.