A SECONDARY school has celebrated the 80th birthday of its cleaning manager and thanked her for 47 years of service.

Margaret Smith began working at Brampton's William Howard School when it went by the name White House in 1976, before its merger in the 1980s, and has seen generations of locals pass through its halls. 

After almost half a century of dedication to keeping the secondary school clean for staff and students, the school's cleaning manager has no plans to stop working and described how being forced away from work during the pandemic affected her. 

News and Star: Margaret in her element.Margaret in her element. (Image: William Howard School)

She said: "I never think about retiring, I live on my own and I like to be active, I cannot sit indoors looking at four walls every day.

"I walk my dogs every day then head into work.

"I know the time will come to retire but I’ve no plans on hanging the duster up just yet.

"As long as I’m fit and can do the work I will carry on.

"Snow, rain, or hail, nothing puts me off going to work unless the school is closed of course.

"The school being closed during Covid has been the worst period in my 47 years but even then, I kept myself busy decorating at home."

Margaret has worked under six different head teachers at the Brampton school and William Howard's current headteacher Kath Pigdon was also amongst those wishing Margaret a belated birthday - and personally thanked her for her service to the school.

She said: "Margaret is more than just our cleaning manager, she is part of the very fabric of our school community.

"Although the length of service is extremely impressive, it is the fact that whenever you see Margaret she always has a big smile on her face and something cheerful to talk about.

"We thank her for her lengthy and continued service to the school."