Diane Taylor knew she always wanted to look after children … and now she’s retired after 36 years at the Huddersfield school where she was a pupil herself 60 years ago.

Diane, of Salendine Nook, first attended the former Outlane School in Outlane before it was shut when the M62 was built and she then moved to Outlane Junior and Infants School at nearby Mount.

Having been a pupil there she returned to the school in March 1987 as lunchtime supervisor before becoming an educational teaching assistant and since then is thought to have helped teach around 3,000 pupils.

The Outlane school was demolished and replaced with Moorlands Primary School and staff and pupils gave Diane a standing ovation when she left for the final time.

“It was really emotional,” she said. “The school had lined both sides of the driveway and clapped me all the way.”

Diane began her working life as a window dresser at the former Paige Gowns on New Street in Huddersfield town centre and then became manager of the Rediffusion TV sales and rental shop on King Street in Huddersfield where she met husband James.

She left to have a family and then began her working life at Moorlands.

The family live locally so all their children have been through the same school along with grandchildren and other relatives.

Diane said: “It sure is going to be strange not being there but one bonus is it’s the first time I can remember I can now book a holiday outside the school holidays!

“I’ve loved my time at the school. Every day is so different and it’s been wonderful working with so many children. As I left on my last day someone thanked me for teaching their son 30 years ago.”

Diane and James have two children, Rachel and Richard, and five grandchildren Megan, Lucie, Taylor, Christian and Amber.

Headteacher Amanda Denney said: “Diane has always worked incredibly hard and made sure the children are well looked after and learn as much as possible.”

  • Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content and copywriting.