A STAFF member from a Runcorn high school is set to retire after over 43 years of service.

Students, staff and the wider Orminston Bolingbroke Academy (OBA) community have bid a fond farewell to its longest sanding staff member, Mrs Ann Collier.

Mrs Collier, who has most recently held the role of personal assistant to principal Mrs Evans, has held her role for seven principals during her time at OBA and has seen thousands of students walk through the school gates.

Mrs Collier looked back on her journey at the school over the last four decades; from working at the old site on Balfour Road, signalling lesson changeovers with a hand bell in thick snow, working in mobile offices, and moving into the new site – as well as wearing many hats!

Runcorn and Widnes World: 180 pupils stood to clap Ann as she headed to one of her retirement treats!180 pupils stood to clap Ann as she headed to one of her retirement treats!

Long-standing colleague Mrs Wightman, described how the much-loved PA was ‘always dashing from the main building to mobiles, at the beck and call of most staff and always able to flag things up in a jiffy!’

After 43 years, Mrs Evans and the staff at OBA were determined to ensure that Mrs Colliers significant service to the school, in its many forms, was rightly honoured.

Celebrations started on Monday, July 19, with 180 Year 7 students and a huge array of colleagues clapping Mrs Collier out of the building to a limousine waiting outside with her husband, daughters and grandchildren.

Several more top-secret celebrations are yet to follow in the lead up to Mrs Colliers last day in August.

Mrs Wightman, who has worked with Mrs Collier throughout the whole 43 years of her career at this school, said: “I could go on forever regarding her personal qualities but it is suffice to say that Mrs Collier is a role model to us all.’’

This is a sentiment echoed by all staff at the academy who will miss Mrs Collier sorely.

The school said: ‘‘We wish her a happy and fun filled retirement (We hear she has already bought a wet suit ready for a new hobby she’s planning!) and bid best wishes and many thanks from everyone at Brookvale Comp, Halton High School and Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy.