Mrs Gullon retires from Yarm’s Levendale Primary School after 30 years

From ‘she’s one of our own, she’s one of our own’ to ‘Mrs G, Mrs G’.

You could have been forgiven for thinking it was a raucous Teesside crowd roaring on Middlesbrough in their pursuit of promotion to the Premier League.

Mrs Gullon says goodbye to Levendale Primary School after almost 30 years Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Instead, it was the thunderous noise from dozens of staff and students past and present who were giving the treasured teaching assistant a glorious send-off after nearly 30 years in the classroom.

Mrs Gullon says goodbye to Levendale Primary School after almost 30 years Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Family, friends and neighbours joined with current and former alumni of Levendale Primary School in Yarm to cheer and chant Jill Gullon into retirement, as she walked out of the place that has been her second home for the last time on Thursday.

The 69-year-old started out as a dinner lady at the school back in 1998, when Bryan Robson was in the dugout at the Riverside Stadium and Pete Sampras was dominating on the grass courts at Wimbledon, but made the decision to call time on her career before the Easter break – and is looking forward to “being able to go on holiday in term time now”.

Jo Lewis, headteacher at the Yarm school, described Mrs Gullon as an “inspirational teaching assistant” who would leave a “lasting legacy of commitment to the children at Levendale”.

Mrs Gullon says goodbye to Levendale Primary School after almost 30 years Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Her final day was marked with a special assembly, tributes from those she taught and worked with over the last three decades, and a final walkout with Boro-themed anthems sung by pupils she’s spent as much time discussing football with as reading and writing in recent months.

She said: “It has been so overwhelming and emotional. I am so grateful to have been able to work in such a lovely school and get such a lovely reaction from everyone.

“I was so shocked and surprised to see people I taught such a long time ago or worked with all those years ago – I really am very touched they have taken the trouble to come along.”

Mrs Gullon, who spent her final school year helping pupils in Years One, Two and Five and also ran the school’s unofficial Boro Breakdown fan club, admitted she had mixed feelings about her retirement.

Mrs Gullon says goodbye to Levendale Primary School after almost 30 years Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

“I am sad to be leaving the place I have gone into every day of the week and have such good friends and memories – but I am looking forward to having a holiday during term time,” she said.

“It has been really special to work with so many amazing children and touch so many lives.

“I will never forget the experiences we have shared together. The sporting activities and the extracurricular activities, but also sitting and working with them and helping them to achieve their potential. I loved making learning fun.

“The staff have been amazing. We’re a real team at Levendale who really support each other when the going gets tough.”

After spending a few months on lunchtime duties, Mrs Gullon began gradually increasing her time at the school in other roles before she eventually applied for a teaching assistant role, which she “loved from day one”.

“That was the aim of the job at the beginning, to develop literacy skills and help where I can.

“I’ve loved helping the children be the best they can be, especially those to whom learning doesn’t come easy. There is nothing more rewarding seeing the smile on their faces when something they’ve been struggling with finally clicks.”

Mrs Gullon says goodbye to Levendale Primary School after almost 30 years Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Headteacher Mrs Lewis added: “We are delighted that Mrs Gullon got the send off she deserves after 27 years at Levendale.

“She has been an inspirational teaching assistant, often going above and beyond to enhance the education of the children.

“Her enthusiasm for the role has made her a much-loved member of staff and she will be really missed by the whole school community.

“Often dedicating her own time to extra-curricular activities, such as visits to watch Middlesbrough Football Club and sporting events, she leaves a lasting legacy of commitment to the children at Levendale.

“We wish her every happiness in her well-deserved retirement.”