School dinner lady retires after 37 years

A dinner lady has retired after working at the same school for 37 years and serving an estimated 3.5 million meals.

Peggy Sweeting served her final school meal at Lees Brook Academy, in Chaddesden, Derby, on Friday.

She had wanted a part-time role when she joined in 1987 because her daughter, then three, was preparing to start school.

The 65-year-old said she had "loved the job" and that she had "lots of mixed emotions" about retiring.

Ms Sweeting said: "After 37 years, I am going to be hanging up my pinny."

During her time at the school, she worked her way up to become catering manager.

She set up the school's cashless system in the early 2000s when she said it became the first in the city to put an end to dinner money, using swipe cards for lunch payments instead.

In more recent years, she "stepped back" and took on the role of kitchen assistant.

Ms Sweeting said her favourite things to cook had changed over the years.

It used to be the roast dinners, suet sponge, fish and chips but now it was macaroni cheese and tandoori chicken.

Ms Sweeting said she would miss "the banter, the fun, and the students".

"I am going to miss coming to work, of course, and miss all the girls," she added.

Katy Heffern, vice principal, said: "We worked out in 37 years - 190 days a year - that is 7,000 days she has done here.

"An average of 500 meals a day means she has been part of creating and serving 3.5 million meals, so absolutely mind-blowing."

Ms Heffern added: "She comes in, gets on with it but she's a source of advice.

"Children approach her, staff approach her, she always has a smile for everyone."

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