AN ALLOA teacher has retired after 39 years of service.
Park Primary’s depute head teacher Ellen Sheppard enjoyed cakes and hot drinks with colleagues last Wednesday to celebrate nearly four decades of working in education last Wednesday (October 7).
Speaking to the Advertiser, she said she thoroughly enjoyed her time teaching children at the school and added: “I love working with the boys and girls and their mums and dads. Some of the mums and dads were pupils as well.”
Mrs Sheppard started working at Hawkhill Primary in 1976: it which was amalgamated with Park Primary in 1996.
She saw a generation grow up and provided education to their kids as well. 
She jokingly commented: “Fortunately, nobody has come and said: ‘you were my granny’s teacher here’.”
Now, she is looking forwards to spending some time in the garden, adding: “I have got a massive garden, a house, a dog. (I can) start my hobbies again.”
Mrs Sheppard also wanted to say a few words to the next generation of teachers, by saying: “Work hard and enjoy the job, because it is very fulfilling.
“I have enjoyed almost every minute in the job, and I’ll miss it.”
She finished a day at the school for one last time on Friday (October 9).