School’s first-class send-off after 40 years for cleaner Pat

Apr 16 2008 by Moira Sharkey, South Wales Echo

School’s first-class send-off after 40 years for cleaner Pat

SCHOOL cleaner Pat Woolcock is in a class of her own.

That was the verdict from her headteacher after almost 40 years’ dedicated service at the same school.

The 73-year-old is retiring from Baden Powell Primary in Tremorfa, Cardiff, after a life-time of hard work and a top-class attendance record.

Pat, who grew up in Canton, started work at the school, in Muirton Road, in 1968 as a midday supervisor. She would have been one of the first to do the job as this post was only created following industrial action by teachers who went on strike to demand a lunch break. She served under five headteachers, the last of whom was Goronwy Jones, who said: “Pat is an example to us all.

“Her sense of service has been outstanding. Her commitment and dedication to this school exemplary. She has only taken a few days off due to ill health in all that time and that was only because she had no choice, having had a fall.”

The mum-of-two former pupils at the school did not know what all the fuss was about when she was the star guest at a special school assembly, during which pupils and staff wished her well in her retirement. As far as Pat was concerned she was just doing her job.