AFTER nearly three decades of being a school caretaker, Mr Dave Stafford has checked his last boiler and locked his last gate.

Mr Stafford, aged 62, said goodbye to the staff and pupils of High Lawn Primary and Nursery School on the last day of term.

Before arriving at the Holden Avenue school in 1989, Mr Stafford worked as a landscape gardener, a park keeper and in a cooked meat factory.

But it was his time at High Lawn that he enjoyed the most.

“I’ve always liked doing odd jobs around the house and fixing things, so it was the ideal line of work,” said Mr Stafford of Lower House Walk, Bromley Cross.

“I’ll miss the variety of the job, there was always something needing doing and I never got bored.

“I’ll also miss the children - who kept me feeling young - and the staff. It was such a lovely, friendly atmosphere and I felt a valued part of the team.”

One thing he said he will definitely not miss is cleaning drains!

Recalling one of his funniest memories at High Lawn, Mr Stafford described the day he had to rescue a deputy headteacher.

“He was chasing after some children but then he fell down the banking. He was wearing a suit and he was absolutely covered in mud. I had to help him up.”

At a farewell assembly held in his honour, Mr Stafford was presented with a watch engraved with the years of his service.

He was delighted by the surprise appearance of former headteachers, Mr Terry Dodds and Mrs Ros Rushton, who turned up to wave him off.

His plans for retirement include spending more time caravanning with his wife, Ann, and seeing more of his children and grandchildren.