A HUNTINGDON teacher who has taught three generations in the town will retire next week.

Joan Stocking has been a teacher for an incredible 40 years, 38 of them at Huntingdon Primary School, and she is now teaching the grandchildren of some of her first pupils.

During her time at the Ambury Road school, Mrs Stocking has worked with eight headteachers and she has helped children celebrate the Queen’s Silver, Golden and Diamond jubilees.

She said when she first started teaching nobody knew anything about computers and calculators were not allowed in class. If you wanted a paper copy of something for every pupil, you used a “banda machine” and everything was handwritten.

Mrs Stocking said she is looking forward to having holidays in term time and being able to have long weekends away. She is also looking forward to being able to spend evenings with her family rather than having to do school work!

She hopes to travel with her husband, Bob, and spend more time in their garden.

She said she had made many friends over the years and will miss the children and her colleagues.

Dave Bridges, chairman of the school’s governors, started school at the same time Mrs Stocking began teaching.

He said: “Joan will be sorely missed. Joan is a popular and much loved member of staff. Children will miss her kindly, gentle approach and adults will miss her friendship and loyalty. All past and present governors wish Joan the very best for her retirement.”