Dinner lady celebrates 40 years at same school

A dinner lady who is celebrating 40 years working at the same school in Greater Manchester said she is very "lucky and grateful".

Alison Hopkinson, 64, has worked at St Mary's CE Primary School in Greenfield, Oldham, since 1984 and was also once a pupil at the school herself.

Ms Hopkinson started working in the school kitchen and has been making meals for the children, including her own, for the past four decades.

She said: "It's been a very interesting and amazing experience over the years".

"There are a lot of children here now who's parents I have actually fed over the years.

"It's a family unit, a lovely establishment, very caring and lovely children".

Ms Hopkinson said people have often asked her if she wants to change her job and she said she enjoys it as "there are interesting things happening every day at school".

As part of her 40 year celebrations the school gave a special assembly, along with gifts including a letter from celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver and a video message from Simon Wood from the BBC's MasterChef.

Head teacher Susan Hall said: "She is part of the spirit and the bones of what we are here.

"We have values which talk about being safe, caring, achieving our very best, being respectful and friendly and Alison epitomises all that with everything that she does".

Ms Hopkinson said she has not decided whether she will retire yet but will make the decision once she has completed two more Christmas dinner services at the school.

She added: "I would miss the school, it's been a very big part of my life."

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