Miss Sugden inspires 3 generations

RETIRED . . . Mariel Sugden

AN INSPIRATIONAL teacher who taught for half a century across three generations has retired.

Mariel Sugden's teaching career spanned 50 years to the day, with the final 19 years spent at Beech House School, a mixed independent school in Rochdale.

Pupils from Oldham who attend the school were among those who were sad to see her leave her post on Friday, July 15.

During the end-of-term assembly, Miss Sugden (71) was presented with a cut-glass vase and given a performance of songs written by some of the Year 8 girls.

The former head of science from Littleborough said: "I was the first person in tears.

"When I realised it was 50 years to the date I thought good gracious that is an awfully long time.

"I am sad in many ways because I loved the contact I had with the children.

"Being with them kept me young but I was feeling that the time was right to move on."

Miss Sugden entered the profession on July 15, 1966, at what was then Littleborough Secondary School, though the establishment changed its name several times during her employment.

Fun

She then took up a six-year position at Hollingworth High School, in Cornfield Street, from where she took early retirement.

To "keep herself occupied", Miss Sugden returned to teaching at Beech House in 1997 and also took up mentoring students and NQTs.

She said: "I liked teaching science and trying to make the lessons fun and interesting.

"I taught Year 8 and 9 classes and also Years 3 and 6 in the lower preparatory classes but not GCSE level because I wasn't used to the syllabus.

"One of the funniest moments at Beech House was when we took a school party to Liverpool's Albert Dock.

"I had gone to send out an announcement over a tannoy after a child had gone missing.

"When I returned, they had found the child, the coaches had disappeared and I was left behind.

"Children, staff and supporting teachers had to turn around and come back for me."

Headteacher Kevin Sartain, who appointed Mariel, said: "On leaving day, one of the women you were least likely to see in tears was in floods.

"She was teaching the grandchildren of people she had taught previously; you would be hard-pressed to find anyone else who has done that.

"She taught around 200 students per year so when you work out how many children's lives she must have affected and people she inspired to take up science, it is quite amazing.

"It will not be the same without her."

Miss Sugden is looking forward to finding a new challenge during retirement and will continue volunteering at The Vine Christian Bookshop and Coffee House, run by her Littleborough church, The Vine Fellowship.