‘Office queen’! St Paul’s primary school secretary Linda Blackshaw retires after 29 years
Published: July 22, 2010
by JOSIE HINTON
HER involvement at the Primrose Hill school started when she became a “paint-mixer” mum – drafted in to help teachers one morning a week – but she ended up running the school office.
Now, after 29 years’ loyal service to St Paul’s primary in Elsworthy Road, 63-year-old Linda Blackshaw, better known as the “office queen”, is retiring as its secretary.
And the popular administrator was given the shock of her life last week when she was led by the headmaster to “pick up a file” from St Mary’s Church – to be greeted by more than 100 cheering children, parents and teachers.
“It was wonderful,” she said. “They planned it so covertly and secretly that I didn’t have a clue. Two former headteachers came along and lots of staff and parents. I really did not know anything was happening.”
Headteacher Simon Knowles said that Ms Blackshaw had “coped effortlessly” with the technological revolution and changes in school management over the years.
Teachers sang a rousing version of Ms Blackshaw’s favourite Abba song, Dancing Queen, changing the words to “Office Queen”, before a rose was presented to her.