Long-serving teacher gets council award

Sue Dillon is known to generations of pupils who have attended the Thatcham school

A teacher known to generations of pupils at a Berkshire school after teaching there for 47 years has been given a special long-service award.

Sue Dillon, 77, has taught at Parsons Down School in Thatcham for most of her 56-year career.

Thatcham Town Council gave her the award for her impact on the school community.

Mrs Dillon, who now works as a supply teacher at the school, said “knowing that you have helped somebody” remained the most rewarding aspect of her job.

“[Parsons Down School] is a lovely school, a wonderful school," she told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"The staff are wonderful, it’s like a family and the kids are lovely.

"A lot of the children [at the school] - I have taught their mums, dads, aunties and uncles. It’s just a lovely environment to be in."

Some listeners contacted the radio station to say they remembered Mrs Dillon, particularly for her textile lessons.

“Back in those days you could have an hour, an hour and a half, for a craft afternoon and we might sew things, make pencil cases and whatever.

“But I had two friends who used to come in with me and we used to teach the children to do macrame.

"So I don’t know whether [the listeners] made a career out of macrame. I just hope I taught them some maths and English.”