Dinner lady Jean Bailey has served up her last meal after 28 years at Frogwell Primary School in Chippenham.

Mrs Bailey, who lives with husband Roy in Park Avenue, said her final day at the school was an emotional one.

The grandmother-of-two said: “There were a few tears on the last day.

“I was doing all right until I saw the headteacher Avis Ball and that started me off. I just thought they would give me a bunch of flowers and see me on my way but they made a big fuss of me. We went out into the playground and all the children made a big circle around me and Mrs Ball to say their goodbyes. It was quite overwhelming.”

Mrs Bailey, who also volunteers with transporting children who attend St Nicholas in the town, says she is looking forward to some well-earned time off.

“I hadn’t realised how long I’d been doing the job for,” she said.

“It’s quite shocking to think it’s been 28 years. I really enjoy volunteering with children from St Nicholas, so I have no intention of stopping that. My husband and I will also be taking a trip up the Nile a bit later this year.

“He’s retiring from the post office after over 30 years so we’d planned it to coincide with both of our retirements.”

The grandmother says she had another reason for retiring when she did.

“It was the right time for me to leave the school,” she said.

“My oldest grandchild, who is 11, attends the special needs classes at the school. It was his year to leave school and so I thought it was time for me to leave with him.”

Mrs Bailey helps out with caring for her grandchildren, and will be spending much of their summer holidays with them.

“We’re looking after them here for a couple of weeks, and I see them on odd days usually,” she said.

“One of the highlights of working at the school was seeing the children. There were some really lovely kids there. It will be a big change for me, and I probably will miss it all to begin with, but it was the right time for me to finish.”