A YORK school has bade goodbye to six members of staff.

Tang Hall Primary School has seen the departure of three teaching staff and three support staff, with a total of 66 years' service for the school between them.

"They will be very dearly missed," said headmaster Ken Taylor.

Teachers Linda Whitehead, Pam Furness and Jane Palmer are all taking early retirement, with Linda and Jane each having served 14 years, and Pam 18 years.

The three support staff, Joan Finney, Jenny Wood and Kathy West, will be moving on in their careers.

Mr Taylor said: "We just want to thank everybody for all the hard work and effort they have put in over the years."

Meanwhile, at Scarcroft Primary School, York, Norma Machell, a former winner of the Teacher Of The Year award, was retiring after 18 years.

Norma, the deputy head, who was made an OBE in 2000, was presented with gifts from teachers and parents.

At New Earswick Primary School, York, "inspirational" teacher Maureen Davidson was retiring after almost 20 years.

Head teacher Carol Farrar said: "I know she will be missed by pupils, parents and colleagues alike. She richly deserves a long and happy retirement."

The Lord Mayor of York, Coun Chas Hall, who knows Maureen, popped into the school to surprise her at the farewell ceremony.

At Carr Infant School, Acomb, York, two teachers with 50 years of service between them have said goodbye to their pupils and colleagues. Pamela Kemp has retired after 18 years as a special needs teacher, while Jackie Sedgwick has moved on to other work in education after 32 years' service as a teacher - in recent years as deputy head.

Head teacher Ann McKeown said Mrs Sedgwick had arrived as a newly-qualified teacher in 1971 and worked there all her career, apart from a year on a teaching exchange in Australia.

She had taught generations of children at the school, and many of the parents of pupils currently at the school were taught by her as well.

Gifts were presented to the two teachers at a packed farewell assembly, attended by many adults who were once taught by the teachers.

At Husthwaite School, staff, pupils, governors and parents said farewell to head teacher Stuart Outram.

Stuart, who has been in the job for four years, was leaving to become head teacher of Hemplands School, in York.

He was presented with gifts as part of a farewell ceremony shared with Simon Bissett who was also leaving to take up a job as deputy head of North Cave School.

At Rawcliffe Infant School, York, head teacher Nick Long, 36, was leaving after three years to become head of Haxby Road Primary School, York.

He enjoyed a farewell party and a meal out with other staff from the school and was presented with a bike.

Updated: 08:45 Monday, July 21, 2003