Joan Farrell, who celebrated her 80th birthday last month, has worked in the after school club since it was set up six years ago, but this week she stepped down. She is well-known around the village and is still involved in a lot of community activities.

Joan, who has three sons, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, said: "It's sad really and I really did enjoy the after school club - seeing the kids when they were five and then seeing them grow up and go to secondary school.

"There's no doubt I will miss it, but I will come back and visit."
Vice chairman of the after school club committee, Jan Thomas, said she would be missed by all the staff and also the children she played with. She said: "Joan has a very caring and loving nature and acted as a surrogate grandmother to many of the children.

"Joan got involved in all aspects of the club - even playing football and tennis."

At Joan's last session at the club, this week, she was presented with many gifts including flowers and cakes from the children and staff.

The after school club will be moving into a new building, within Ickford school grounds, when it starts up again in September. Jan said they hope Joan would continue to pop in at the club, for a chat and a cup of tea during snack time.

Chairman Paul Campbell, who has two children in the club, said: "She's such a kind person and she will give the children a cuddle, just like a grandmother would. She's full of life and well-known locally.

"I think the consistency of having her here for all those years since it started is a lovely thing. What is great is to have someone who has that added experience and is not fazed by anything. I think she also teaches the children some of the skills modern parenting doesn't. When you are starting up a group like this you need a range of skills and there's not always the opportunity to have an older, wiser person there.

"She loves bingo and we have bingo evenings at the after school club and she's always involved. She'll be on a table with the children helping them mark out their sheets."