Wendy Parry has retired after 24 years as secretary at Marlborough School in Falmouth, but will not be cutting her ties with the school and has promised she will be back.

Her time at the school has been rather eventful and she has seen lots of changes, not least in the headship which has seen Wendy work for four head teachers and three acting head teachers since 1989.

Her final day on Friday was a bitter-sweet affair which saw a surprise presentation to her during afternoon assembly when the children sang the song I’m Leaving Marlbrough. Later that day, she was treated to tea at the Royal Duchy Hotel.

Speaking on her last day, Wendy said: “I am going to be sad to go, but also I’m ready to go. I now want to just relax, catch up with some jobs and spend more time with my daughter in Bristol.”

Wendy’s daughter, Jane Louise was a former pupil at Marlborough. “She came here when it was just an infant school and then went to King Charles, but when we became a primary school, she came back.”

Wendy may have spent her last day at work, but she said: “I will miss everybody, but I shall be back – they are not rid of me yet.”