RETIREMENT at Christmas after a lifetime in the teaching profession by a local woman brought with it a well-deserved 'gong' -- the award of an OBE!

Entry into the Queen's Birthday Honours List came for headmistress Audrey Westhead, of Dentons Green Lane, for outstanding services to special needs children at Chestnut Lodge school, Widnes.

Educated at Rivington Road elementary and Cowley Grammar schools, and then Leeds teacher-training college, she began teaching in 1957 and worked in Prescot, with HM forces in Germany, Merton Bank, and the Hamblett school.

Mrs Westhead is married to John, and the couple have three sons, Jonathan, Jed and Ben, and a grand-daughter Mollie.

Said a delighted Audrey: "While I regard the OBE as a great honour for myself, I also feel it also reflects great credit on all who work so hard at Chestnut Lodge school."