IT’S the end of an era for one of Inverclyde’s best known teachers who will retire in the summer after a remarkable 45-year career.

Isabel Lind says deciding to leave was the toughest call of her life as she is so passionate about her job at Aileymill Primary School.

But the teacher insists the time is right, with both her mother Elizabeth Doull and her husband Ronnie suffering from ill health.

The tireless 65-year-old told the Tele: “It was the hardest decision of my life because I love my work.

“Without question I will miss the children and the teaching staff — I will be sad to leave.

“But my husband and my mother are both unwell so it’s the right decision. It will allow me to spend more time with both of them.” Mrs Lind, who lives on the Esplanade with her husband, says her calling to the teaching profession came when she was a little girl.

She said: “I have been very bossy from an early age.

“I used to line up my dolls and I would make my brother plays schools.

“I was fanatical about being a teacher.” Her first teaching job was at the former King’s Glen Primary school in Greenock.

From there she landed the job as head teacher at Saracen Primary in Possilpark before she took up the helm at the former Ravenscraig Primary, which later amalgamated with Earnhill Primary to become Aileymill.

She said: “King’s Glen was a wonderful school and I learned so much there.

“To be honest I have loved every single school I’ve worked in.

“I was 60 when I took on the head teacher post at Aileymill and people told me it was a poisoned chalice.

“But how wrong they were, as I have enjoyed every minute of it and to take Aileymill forward has been tremendous.” Mrs Lind was keen to praise her husband for his immense backing throughout her career.

She said: “I couldn’t have had a more supportive husband.

“He has never ever questioned why I’m at the school.” Mrs Lind, who won the prestigious Lifetime Achievement gong at the British Education Awards last year, says she will also use her retirement to focus on her role as president of the Inverclyde Music Festival.

She said: “The festival will be tinged with sadness for me this year as it’ll be the last time that I work with the children on their singing games.

“I have taken part in music making since 1973, I’ve only ever missed one year.

“But I will have more time to work on running the festival.” To mark Mrs Lind’s retirement, a garden party will be organised in the last week before the summer holidays.