A DINNER lady duo have hung up their ladles after serving up for nearly 50 years together at the same school.

Rosaline Edwards, 62, and Rose Middleton, 63, bid farewell to colleagues, pupils and teachers at King’s Oak Primary in Greenock earlier this month.

The pair retired after dishing up to pupils and staff for 25 and 24 years respectively.

Catering manager Jean Thomson paid tribute to her staff saying they will be sadly missed.

She said: “They were a pleasure to work with.

“They were both very hardworking and knew in advance what needed to be done. They were just great.” The milestone was marked with a special tea to celebrate with catering managers from Inverclyde Council where the ladies received leaving gifts.

This was followed by a presentation of flowers and chocolates at the school on their last day.

Jean has been catering manager for three years but met the women 14 years ago when she was training to be a cook.

She said: “It is a very sad loss to the school.

“They were very popular with pupils and teachers. One of the pupils asked what retirement was and when he was told that you don’t go to work anymore, he replied that Rose was too young.” Both ladies live in Greenock, have grown-up children and grandchildren, and say they are looking forward to spending more time with their families.

Jean said: “Their own kids went to this school and now it is their grandchildren attending King’s Oak.

“They’ve served generations of families over the years — it’s a long time.” She added that school meals have improved greatly over the last 25 years.

She said: “We’ve got a better choice now. The menu is a lot better.

“When the girls started it used to be coloured custard and prunes — it’s changed dramatically since then!”