A TEACHER at a Pontypool school who taught generations of children has come full circle on her retirement – teaching both the first and last pupils to attend it.

Pamela Evans, 56, a teacher at Kemys Fawr Infant School which closed earlier this month, ended her teaching career by saying goodbye to the last pupils to attend the nursery where she unwrapped the chairs and tables and taught the very first pupils.

Mrs Evans, originally from Garndiffaith, arrived at Kemys Fawr as a newly qualified teacher in 1983, the year the nursery opened.

Over 30 years later the much-loved teacher packed up the nursery for the last time as the school closed its doors to pupils this summer.

In January last year, Torfaen Council’s cabinet members agreed to close Kemys Fawr Infants School and nursery under the 21st Century Schools Programme that aims to reduce surplus school places.

Paying tribute to the popular teacher and talented music tutor, headteacher at Kemys Fawr Nick Blackburn said: “I have worked with Mrs Evans for many years and she has consistently nurtured, supported and challenged pupils to achieve the very best results.

“Mrs Evans has always delivered excellence and is much-loved by pupils, colleagues and parents. Whether teaching in the classroom or organising school concerts, her experience and enthusiasm for helping young people made her an enormously valued teacher. I wish her all the best for the future in her well-deserved retirement.”

Mrs Evans taught generations of children in South Wales at several local schools, including Fairwater Infants, where she was responsible for opening a special needs unit for children who required extra support. She showed her ongoing commitment to education by serving as a school governor.

Mrs Evans, now living in Penperlleni, taught more than 1,000 children in her 10,000 days at the school, and used her musical ability to bring countless concerts to life.

Mrs Evans attended Abersychan Secondary Modern School and then trained and qualified as a teacher of education and music in 1983 at Caerleon Campus when it was part of the University of Wales, Newport (now the University of South Wales).

Having started school herself as a pupil at Garndiffaith Infants in 1961, now some 53 years later Mrs Evans can finally say school’s out.

However, Mrs Evans will be continuing to help local children grow through her own business, Easy Start Home Tuition, a one-to-one private tuition service in literacy and numeracy.

For over three decades, Mrs Evans taught pupils at Gilwern Primary School, Kemys Fawr Nursery and Infants School, Garndiffaith Primary School and Fairwater Infants and Nursery School.