Cliftonville primary and pre-school site manager Ann Crittenden retired this week after more than 40 years service.
Ann started at the school in January 1982 as premises manager when there were just 10 classes and around 300 pupils. She has seen it grow and managed the building works as the school expanded to its existing size of 840 pupils and six buildings.
She has seen many Cliftonville pupils grow up with children of their own going through the school too.
Having moved from Birchington to Maidstone around 15 years ago she commuted daily to the school. Her granddaughter Christina is a member of the school choir and sang a solo for her grandmother in the leavers assembly on Thursday.
A tea party was also arranged with surprise guests in the form of ex-colleagues from her 40 years at the school. She was a school governor until her retirement.
A school spokesperson said: “Ann is now 76 years old and well deserves her retirement.
“We would like to mark the occasion after such a long and dedicated service, and let the local community know of her dedication as there must be many former pupils who will remember her.”