Fitting send-off for OBA staff member following four decades devotion

Students, staff and the wider school community at Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy have this week given long-standing staff member, Mrs Patricia ‘Pat’ Wightman, a retirement send off to remember following her 43 year service at the school.

Pat first joined the then Brookvale Comprehensive School in December 1978, following working at two other companies for six years and raising her family for 10 years, before finishing for the final time this week.

In the build up to Pat’s last day, staff and students serenaded her in the reprographics office with a daily countdown singalong to 12 Days of Christmas, which culminated in over 200 students and staff clapping her out of the building to her family waiting in a limousine to drive away in style.

Over the last four decades, Pat has supported many grateful headteachers and countless staff, providing an amazing job in reprographics. She has never failed to be there for the school and those it supports, whether it’s coming in early on exams days to staying late to complete jobs that help others. She has thrown herself into other parts of school life too, including volunteering, helping on results days, and support Parent Teacher Association groups.

During her final few weeks working at the school, Pat recalled how much the school, and times, had changed since she first started. This included milk only costing 12p, a pint of beer being 40p, and the average house price being £16,000, at the time.

The Academy, which is sponsored by Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT), will miss Pat sorely but know that she has certainly earned her retirement and that she is looking forward to spending more time with her family.

Kathryn Evans, Principal of OBA, said:  

“We will miss Pat hugely but we are so grateful for everything she has done for our school. On behalf of everyone, present and past, the OBA Family wish her a long, healthy and happy retirement.”