FRIDAY was a bittersweet day for Bradford on Avon woman, Myrtle Wilcox.

The catering assistant spent her last lunchtime working at Christchurch School after more than 20 years.

Mrs Wilcox said: "It is sad, I will really miss the children. Some of them I see now are the children of boys and girls I knew here years ago."

Friday was her 65th birthday and she decided the time was right to retire and spend time doing other things.

"My husband and I are both retired now and we want to spend more time visiting places we have always wanted to see."

Mrs Wilcox's career at the school began when her own three children were young and she did an eight-year stint at the canteen.

After a short break she decided to come back to the job and spent a further 12 and a half years there.

The staff and children held a special assembly to say goodbye to Mrs Wilcox and to give her some gifts, both to show their appreciation and to say happy birthday.

Knowing her love of gardening they gave her a big flowerpot full of plants, including Myrtle in her honour, along with some garden vouchers.

She said: "It was lovely, I thought I was going to cry but I managed not to."