OPEN fires in classroom hearths were once features of winter life at local schools - and not too long ago.

Hazel Banks had a memorable start to her lengthy career at Boothstown St Andrew's back in May 1967.

She missed the bus and had to jog to school!

"I arrived very hot and bothered, not a good start," recalled Hazel at an end-of-term presentation.

Life at St Andrew's in 1967 was much different from today, but not a lot had changed from when the old school opened in 1874.

She recalled: "We had no staff room, and in winter, besides the central heating, there were huge open fires in three of the classrooms.

"As housebuilding progressed the numbers of children increased and two new classrooms signalled the beginning of the new building.

"Boothstown has greatly changed since 1967. It is no longer a semi-rural hamlet, but now a huge housing estate. I'm not sure I like it here any more."

Hazel received her long service award with other recipients, head Peter Simpson and colleagues Alice Ann Coates and Christine Pallister.

Mr Simpson gave up a career as an accountant to take up teaching and has been a head teacher in the Salford area for 20 years and at Boothstown since 1984.

Senior nursery nurse Ann Coates has been at St Andrew's from the start of the nursery in 1981.

Christine Pallister, now in her 28th year in teaching and her 21st at St Andrew's, has special needs responsibility.

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