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Governor bows out after 35 years of service to children
Jun 9, 2009
A SPECIAL assembly was held at a Teesdale school to bid a fond farewell to a governor who had dedicated 35 years of her life to improving the lives of pupils.
June Dowson, from Cockfield, began her time as a governor at Staindrop Comprehensive in 1974 and since then she has seen both her son and her four grandchildren attend the village school.
Mrs Dowson, who has lived in the area all her life, said she had enjoyed her time with the school and although she would miss being part of the team, she would still be keeping an eye on things.
She said: “I will really miss being a part of things here. I’ve made a lot of friends and I’ve never once regretted being on the board.”
Before joining the school’s board of governors, Mrs Dowson was a county councillor, taking over the seat from her late husband, Harry, who died in 1972. The couple were also the steward and stewardess of Cockfield Workingmen’s Club.
During her 35 years at the school Mrs Dowson said she had seen big changes and has recently been impressed by the school’s exam results. She said: “It is wonderful how well they have done.
“The staff are brilliant and they have a wonderful head and deputy head – the results speak for themselves and everyone involved should be very proud. I’m always proud to say I’m a governor at Staindrop school.”
To thank Mrs Dowson for her years of loyal service the school held a special assembly where the
headteacher, Brian Kinnair, praised the retiring governor’s input
into the school and the local
community.
He told the students: “I’d like to say a very big thank you to Mrs Dowson who has done 35 years unpaid voluntary work for her community.
“She is a role model for what it means to be a good citizen. If you give up 35 years of your time to make your community a better place we will be proud of you and know we have done our jobs.”
After telling the story of John F Kennedy, who died 35 years ago, Mr Kinnair added: “Mrs Dowson didn’t ask the community what it could do for her but what she could do for her community.”
Mrs Dowson was presented with a bouquet of flowers from head boy Ross Lynton and head girl Jenny Kirby. She said it had been a “great pleasure” to be involved with the school.
She added: “The governors’ priority has always been what is best for the school. We’ve had wonderful help from County Hall and our clerks and we have a lot to thank a lot of people for.”