THREE members of staff at Chipping Campden School are celebrating after clocking up nearly a century of service between them.

Marita Pratley joined the school in 1977 as a maths teacher and then went on to lead the department for more than 30 years.

Colleague Les Southam joined a few years later in 1979 having turned down the opportunity of a professional contract with Everton FC.

He taught in and then led the geography department and contributed to PE and the wider pastoral life of the school and has been part of the senior leadership team for more than a decade.

And Ros Sojka, after 18 years of committed service to the PE department and the school, will be joining Miss Prately and Mr Southam as they enter retirement.

Headteacher John Sanderson said: “Personally, it has been a privilege to work alongside three colleagues who have committed their lives and careers to educating generation after generation of young people in this community.

"Indeed, I know I speak on behalf of all who are, or who have been, associated with the school in wishing each one of them the very best in their retirement.”

But despite retiring from their roles, both Miss Prately and Mr Southam are not waving goodbye to the school just yet.

Miss Pratley wants to see her current Year 10 class through to their GCSEs and Mr Southam has offered to cover Mrs Carpenter’s classes while she is on maternity leave.