Pupils welcome former dinner lady Dorothy back for lunch

Dorothy and Bill Thompson tugged at heartstrings with the tale of how they met.

The couple, who live in Northumberland Avenue, Cleveleys, met on a train 68 years ago when Bill was stationed in Edinburgh with the army.

Pupils at Northfold in Cleveleys were so inspired by their tale of young love they invited 90-year-old Dorothy, who is blind and suffers with dementia, and her husband for a special visit.

For many years Dorothy worked as a lunch-time supervisor at Northfold Primary School, now Northfold Community Primary School, in Cleveleys.

Headteacher Alison Wilson said: “It all started with the story in The Gazette.

“We looked Dorothy up in the school log book and even found the original Gazette article written when she retired.

“Dorothy and the children really enjoyed the visit which I know brought back some happy memories for her at a time when her health is not too great.”

Pupils from year six wrote to Mr and Mrs Thompson after seeing the story.

And they were delighted to get a reply.

On the day of the visit Dorothy and Bill, and daugther Angela who was visiting from her home in the United States, were met by year six pupils who showed them around the school.

The couple were treated to a rendition of the national anthem from year two before enjoying lunch with the pupils.

Dorothy and Bill were then taken to the yard to see the children play.

One of Dorothy’s year six guides said: “Mrs Thompson enjoyed this as it brought back some good memories of when she used to work at the school.

“She remarked on how the layout of the school hadn’t altered much and also how lovely the children were.”

Year six pupils at Northfold wrote their own special account of the day and found out all about Dorothy’s job at the school. They wrote:

“Mr and Mrs Thompson arrived shortly before lunch and a group of Class sixchildren greeted them and began to show them around part of the school. In the Year two classroom the children sang the national anthem and Mrs Thompson relished joining in and singing with them.

"A new group of Class six children then ate lunch with the visitors and they chatted as they ate.

"Mrs Thompson commented on how lovely the meal was and how different the school dinners were nowadays!

"Once they’d eaten their lunch and pudding, another group escorted them outside to see all of the children playing.

"Mrs Thompson enjoyed this as it brought back some good memories of when she used to work at the school.

"She remarked on how the layout of the school hadn’t altered much and also how lovely the children were.

"Her job started when the school first opened.

"It was to look after the children at both dinner and play times.

"She loved this job as she found it a delight to work with children.

"Overall she worked at the school for about 25 years before retiring.

Now she lives near the school with her husband Bill and we are proud to say the couple have been married for 68 years, only two years away from their Platinum Anniversary.

It was a great privilege showing Mrs Thompson, her husband and their daughter around the school and they definitely enjoyed the experience as well.

As Mrs Thompson was leaving, her daughter said, “This has really made Dorothy’s day as she has recently not been so well and this has cheered her up no end.”

Written by Emily R, Emily C. and Sylvia