Fond farewell as three Motherwell teachers retire

Jul 3 2008 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

PUPILS at two Motherwell schools said a final farewell to three of their teachers last week as they headed into retirement.

Youngsters at Knowetop Primary celebrated the work of head teacher Linda Miller and principal teacher Alison Anderson.

Elsewhere, at St Bernadette’s Primary, head teacher Gwen Dickson retired after 19 years of teaching at the school.

Mrs Miller, who lives in Uddingston, had been head teacher at the school for 18 years and during that time she valued the support, loyalty and friendship of children, staff and parents.

She says teamwork has been the secret of the school’s success.

Mrs Miller added: “Knowetop has a fine sporting tradition and we’re privileged to have access to Motherwell Football Club's training pitch.

“Equally, the children and their parents have a reputation for being big-hearted.

"After the tragic death of Motherwell captain Phil O’Donnell, the school held a HeartStart Day on St Valentine’s Day. Enough money was raised to buy a training defibrillator for the club.”

A retired chemistry teacher at Hamilton Academy, Linda’s husband Bert has strong family connections with Knowetop Primary. He was a pupil there, as were his brother and father.

Alison Anderson (58), from Hamilton, also waved goodbye to the pupils last week after teaching at the school for the past 18 years.

Alison has taught several primary age groups over that time and latterly fulfilled the role of principal teacher.

A buffet lunch was held recently to recognise her service to the school, where she performed a song reminiscing her career.

Alison said: “I think the song went down quite well as we all had a good time. I am now just looking forward to pursuing my sporting hobbies.”

After 19 years at St Bernadette’s Primary, Mrs Dickson has found herself overwhelmed by the positive comments from parents and pupils, past and present.

She, in turn, has nothing but praise for her staff.

She said: “They create a wonderfully welcoming environment for the boys and girls who come to us from Ailsa and Forgewood nurseries.

“And, of course, we share a campus. This gives our pupils lots of opportunities to take part in activities with the children from Clydeview School.

Gwen smiled as she remembered her own early days in teaching. She said: “I started in 1969 and celebrated my 21st birthday with the class.”

In the years that followed, she became deputy head at St Aidan’s Primary in Wishaw.

But Gwen also has a very unusual entry in her teaching CV. She taught at the International School in Athens, Greece, for four years.

Coincidentally, her husband James has just retired from the English department of Calderhead High School in Shotts.