WHILE many look forward to reaching the age of retirement, a dinner lady at a primary school in Bushey claims there is little or nothing that will prevent her from continuing in the job she loves.

Mrs Dorris Wayne of Moat View Court in Moatfield Road, Bushey, first undertook the position of dinner lady at Hartsbourne School in 1996.

Now at the age of 77 Mrs Wayne, a longstanding resident of Bushey and mother of two, is adamant she is by no means near to hanging up her overall, or deserting the love of her life her job as a dinner lady at the school in Hartsbourne Road, Bushey.

Mrs Wayne, a former housewife who was originally brought up in Ilford, said: "I love children, I always have done. I find they say such wonderful things."

Mrs Wayne, a grandmother of five, currently works at the school two days a week in the official capacity of mid-day supervisory assistant. She also works as a volunteer at The Hospice Charity Shop in High Street, Bushey.

She said: "It is not and never has been the money that has made me continue working at the school, it is quite simply my love for the job and the children that I care for."

Deputy headteacher at the school, Mrs Karen Smith said: "Dorris is a valuable member of our staffing team here at Hartsbourne. During her time with us, she has extended her responsibilities far beyond that expected of her by becoming involved in the wider life of the school, such as giving up her own time to take part in First Aid training and, more recently, the Hertfordshire Healthy Schools initiative.

"I think the children see her as much more than a dinner lady. She is more like a grandma, who is very caring, yet also knows the boundaries of discipline.

"We very fortunate to have Dorris working at the school, as she acts as an extremely positive role model for all the children that attend it."