School cleaner retires after 41 years

A long-standing cleaner at Melksham Oak Community School has retired after 41 years.

Vera Petty retired on 19th December after more than four decades serving the school community. A party was held at the school to celebrate her retirement.

Now 82, Vera started working at the school, formerly George Ward School, in her 40s as a dinner lady. When the school relocated and became Melksham Oak Community School, she was made a cleaning supervisor.

She said, “I shall miss the company and I have enjoyed it for the 41 years I have been there. It has also been nice to see the students grow. You see them when they are there, then you see the ones who have left, and they usually come back to do sports and they say, ‘I remember you.’”

Vera’s daughter, Marcia, has now taken over the role. She said, “I have met a lot of nice people and teachers; I have always got on well with everybody.”