THE exciting launch of the newly developed Highfield Early Years Centre has coincided with the departure of one of its longest serving members of staff.

Centre manager Mary Bell, of Weldbank Lane, Chorley, will retire this week after 26 years service to the centre, formerly Highfield Nursery School.

Mary is a life-long member of the Chorley community and after leaving school she went into industrial sales for 15 years before she trained to be a teacher in 1978.

She spent three years at a special school in Skelmersdale before moving to Highfield Nursery in 1981, where she eventually moved her way up to the position of headteacher in 1990.

Mary, of Weldbank Lane, Chorley, isn't planning on a quiet retirement.

She also works as a mediator for Preston Council, helping to solve housing disputes and she will stay on at Highfield as a member of the committee.

As a mother of four and with three grandchildren, Mary is planning on spending more time with her family, as well as spoiling her grandchildren.

She also has grand plans for the spare time that she will have on her hands. "I'm going travelling." said Mary.

"I'm going to Italy in August and then across the Baltic. I'd like to go to Canada and on a cruise as well. I like gardening, too, so I'm going to spend more time doing that."

With the opening of the new £1m centre, Mary is leaving on a high "I was a part of the bid for the new centre. It's my greatest achievement, the pinnacle of my career," she said.

Mary says she has thoroughly enjoyed her time at the nursery and will deeply miss the children and staff, who she described as a pleasure to work with.