STAFF and students surprised retiring staff member Rosemary Russell with a party.

Mrs Russell has been associated with Mountjoy School in Bridport for 25 years.

She retired from working as an admin officer, but first became involved with Mountjoy as a volunteer in 1988 when her son Robert started at the school.

Since then, she has been employed as a mid-day supervisory assistant, teaching assistant and an admin assistant before taking on the role of admin officer in 2005.

Mrs Russell also served as a parent governor for four years and has held the post of clerk to the governors since 2002.

She has also been the secretary of the Friends of Mountjoy Association for many years.

The governors, staff and pupils threw her a surprise party and included a special guest – her granddaughter Emily.

The pupils entertained guests with a performance from the handbell ringers, songs, poetry and a Bollywood dance before everyone tucked in to an afternoon tea. Parents at the school clubbed together and presented Mrs Russell with a vase, flowers and wine.

As one parent said: “If you needed to know anything about the school, it was always ‘let’s go and find Rosemary’. Thank you, Rosemary, for everything you have done for us.”