Janet says goodbye to Wood Bank School after 31 years

A much-respected member of staff at an upper Calder Valley school has retired after 31 years.
Janet Wilby, senior administrator at Woodbank School, Luddenden, retires after 31 years. With Janet are pupils Harry Critchlow aged ten and Phoebe Hoyle aged nine.Janet Wilby, senior administrator at Woodbank School, Luddenden, retires after 31 years. With Janet are pupils Harry Critchlow aged ten and Phoebe Hoyle aged nine.
Janet Wilby, senior administrator at Woodbank School, Luddenden, retires after 31 years. With Janet are pupils Harry Critchlow aged ten and Phoebe Hoyle aged nine.

Janet Wilby, 63, of Sowerby Bridge, worked at Wood Bank Special School, Luddenden Foot, since 1985.

She had stints working in a number of other schools across Calderdale, including Calder High School and Sowerby Bridge High School and what started as a part-time role at Wood Bank soon evolved.

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Speaking about her time at the school, Janet said: “The team are wonderful and the children are just marvellous.

“The staff are amazing and everybody is so friendly and supportive.”

Head teacher Richard Pawson said a big thank for her hard work and commitment over the years.

“She has done an absolutely fantastic job of running our school office and managing finances.

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“She was such great person to have at the front of the school,” he said.

He also praised Janet for the way she adapted as technology changed the years, moving from a typewriter, to an electronic typewriter to a computer and more besides, saying “she just took everything in her stride”.

Janet, who has three children and two grandchildren, now plans to enjoy her retirement with her husband David andspend time with her family.

She says she has a number of projects in the pipeline, but at some point would like to travel on the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise liner and watch a Formula 1 grand prix.