EVERY single pupil at St Andrew’s Primary was in the frame as the school bid a special farewell to an inspirational teacher.

Depute head Margaret Ann McMahon is retiring after a career spanning almost 40 years and the whole school turned out to wish her well.

Ms McMahon was overwhelmed by the gesture and swift to praise the pupils.

Margaret Ann, 61, said: “I have mixed feelings about leaving — I will miss the children enormously.

“We have wonderful youngsters in this area and I feel very privileged to have been entrusted by the parents to look after their children.”

Margaret Ann was depute head in St Gabriel’s Primary for many years and moved on to St Andrew’s when it opened five years ago.

She said: “I’ve been teaching for 39 years.

“It’s a long time but I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it.”

The senior teacher lives in Inverkip with her husband Danny, a former head of faculty at St Columba’s High School, who retired last year.
Staff at St Andrew’s say Margaret Ann is a treasure and will be a hard act to follow.

Primary seven teacher Carol Boyle said: “Margaret Ann is going to be very greatly missed by all the pupils, staff and parents.

“Parents think she is wonderful. 

“She has made a massive contribution to the school and school community of St Joseph’s, St Ninian’s and St Columba’s and we want to wish her all the best. 

“She and her husband are a very well known and respected couple within education in the local community.”