A 78-year-old who has worked at a school for 44 years has received a nomination for a Merton Civic Award from her daughter.

Diana Johnson, of Cecil Road, Wimbledon, has been working at Pelham Primary School supervising children’s dinners for four decades and received a Long Service Award from Merton Borough in 2010.

She said: "Every time I say I want to retire they say: ‘No, you can’t go yet’.

"At the moment I feel healthy, so I am not planning to leave. I just enjoy it, it gets me out. It is a happy place to work."

Being the longest serving person at school, Mrs Johnson is the one other staff members go to to ask questions about the school’s past.

She said: "When former students come back to school, they ask: ‘Where is Mrs Johnson?’ They were here as children and now their own children go to this school."

Mrs Johnson has five children of her own, together with nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren, most of who live miles and even continents away from her Wimbledon home but keep it touch all the time.

Her daughter, Patricia Jordan, from Morden, who nominated her for the award, said: "My mother is still working and is now 78-years-old and never misses a day off work.

"She is very popular with the parents and children and still comes up with inspiring plans for the school. Her dedication to the school, the children and teachers is amazing."

Mrs Johnson was nominated for the Teacher of the Year Award.

To nominate someone for an award visit the Merton Civic awards page.

 

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