A SCHOOL community has celebrated the fantastic 40-year career of a much-respected and valued member of its support team.

Helen Doughty received the Evening Mail Bouquet of the Week at a surprise party to mark her retirement at Walney School.

Mrs Doughty, the logistics co-ordinator at the secondary school has also just turned 60.

Vanessa Lloyd, the school's Multi Academy Trust business manager, nominated Mrs Doughty for the beautiful bouquet.

The bouquet was another surprise at the party, which was attended by staff, students and Mrs Doughty's family.

Mrs Doughty joined Walney School in 1976 as a science laboratory assistant and went on to move through the management structure from being a very successful senior science technician, robust cover manager, enthusiastic Adult Education Centre manager, and then resulting in her promotion to logistics co-ordinator.

Mrs Lloyd said Mrs Doughty has been instrumental in setting up and co-ordinating various initiatives and links within the local community.

She said past and present pupils will remember her support and administration of Christmas hampers and boxes of biscuits for the annual distribution to the elderly on the island.

Mrs Doughty was also a key member of a dedicated team who set up and organised the annual Senior Citizens Tea Party, an event which is still running after almost 30 years and which remains a key event in the schools calendar.

She has also played an integral part in encouraging students to be entrepreneurs through Young Enterprise. She was a key figure in the delivery and support of this programme to Year 11 students for at least 22 years. Through this scheme pupils were successful at creating their own companies, representing the school both nationally and internationally.

Her support of the Aim Higher initiative saw Mrs Doughty take a lead role in the encouragement of students to move from education to take up places at university. She took students to visit universities as well as arranging for university mentors to visit the school.

Mrs Lloyd said: "There are many more ingenuities that Helen has been instrumental in delivering and supporting throughout the years of being at Walney School. Without her drive and passion for making a difference to all our young people over the past 40 years, Walney School would not have enjoyed the numerous celebratory events that it has. We are losing a source of inspiration, motivation and guidance for both pupils and staff, she will be greatly missed. We wish her a long and happy retirement."

Mrs Doughty, of Walney, said: "The surprise party was overwhelming and the bouquet was beautiful.

"Walney School is a fantastic place to work. We have tremendous staff and super children, we work as a team.

"This was a wonderful day to end a fantastic career."