Teacher says fond farewell after more than 40 years at the same school
"I've had an amazing career," says the special teacher who has retired after more than four decades at the same school.
When Julie Wooldridge earned her qualifications in the early 1980s there were very few teaching vacancies around due to an economic downturn at the time. After a succession of temporary posts she finally landed her dream job at Alumwell Infant School, in Primley Avenue, in Walsall.
She says: "I have been working in the school for over 40 years. I joined in September 1983. I really can't believe it's that long. I found myself staying there because of the lovely children and the people I worked with.
"I always had an interest in teaching. I went to the former West Midlands Teaching College right here in Walsall and when I left there were hardly any jobs to go to. I worked in temporary jobs for the first year. I worked at St Francis Infants in Shelfield and at Birchills Infants before finally getting a permanent job at Alumwell Infants.
"After lot of deliberation over whether I was ready to give it up, I decided to retire.
