Jan bows out

Mrs Drury, who set up the school 16 years ago following the closure of West Preston Manor Preparatory School, where she taught, was presented with a commemorative book, gold bracelet and flowers, during an assembly.

A pupil's grandmother, grateful to Mrs Drury for her marvellous work, even recreated a miniature version of her classroom, complete with a reduced copy of the school photograph on the wall.

Mrs Drury, who has given the school to long-standing staff members Katie Dearlove and Sheila Frost, said: "My years here have been fantastic and I am going to miss the children, but I will still pop in.

"The decision to leave had to be made on medical advice. I was told to take a back seat two years ago and it has taken me this long to come to terms with it.

"The parents and staff have always been very supportive. They put a lot of time, effort and patience into the assembly presentation and I was overwhelmed by their generosity."

After being established due to the closure of the preparatory school, which was run by Mrs Boycott and Mrs Stromwall, the nursery school was originally run by Mrs Drury in the Windmill Theatre.

Some time later, Mrs Drury was offered the former treatment rooms at the Avalon Health Clinic, which was owned by Mrs Stromwall's sisters Joy and Sonia.

Mrs Drury now plans on spending time creating authentic furniture for her Georgian dolls' house and will do charity work with children.

The presentation to her took place on the last day of term, along with a special jubilee party.

Children enjoyed a lunch, entertainment, crowning of the king and queen and they were presented with Rustington Parish Council medals and nursery school mugs.