SHE has taught many of the children and even a handful of the grandchildren of pupils who were in her class when they first started school.

And now after 40 years at All Saints Middle School, in Sudbury, Sue Tibbetts has said a fond farewell.

As well as a special assembly on Friday and a party with present and former colleagues and friends the previous evening attended by more than 70 people, the 61-year-old was taken home from the school, in Acton Road, on her final day in a Model T Ford.

It had been an emotional few days for the popular teacher who has taught a whole raft of subjects since starting at All Saints in 1972, completing her career teaching maths.

“I’ve taught everything there is to teach and been involved in no end of school trips and helped to forge international links with a school in Denmark,” she said.

“My time at All Saints has been wonderful and I’ve seen many changes with Ofsted being introduced along with SATS and the National Curriculum.”

One of the highlights of her long career was picking up the International Schools Award from BBC news presenter George Alagiah on behalf of All Saints, which was presented in 2006.

She now intends to spend her retirement years pursuing history research, craft work and travelling.

And for her long service award she is to get a puppy cocker spaniel which is currently eight weeks old and is due to be collected next month.

“So that’s going to keep me rather busy,” she added.

Headteacher Karen Harman praised Sue for her years of dedication and support.

She said her long-serving members of staff had also been involved in teaching special needs pupils and that she had a string of good wishes following news of Sue’s retirement.

There were flowers and cards from pupils and staff and it is believed that during her career Sue, who lives in Sudbury, had taught more than 4,000 children.

“It’s been an unbelievable career and there are not many teachers who have been at the same school all these years,” the headteacher added.