By Ryan Sands
“WHAT I will miss most are the children.”
Those were the words of Lynda Brown, the now former principal of Annsborough Integrated Primary School, at a special assembly held on Friday to mark her retirement after 24 years in the role.
The Aughlisnafin native joined the village school as a teacher in 1990, having begun her career in Castlewellan Primary School – of which she was a past pupil – two years earlier.
Prior to the delivery of her farewell speech at last week’s event, Mrs Brown said she was “simply overwhelmed” by all the best wishes and kind words she had received on her retirement.
The speech began with her stressing that little did she know, on taking up her post in Annsborough, that “the school would become such an important part of my life” and she would “have the privilege” of following in the footsteps of her colleagues Eileen Slader and Helena Carton as principal.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would devote almost my entire teaching career to one school,” Mrs Brown continued.
“As a beginning teacher, that’s certainly not something you plan.
“Yet here I am, 36 years later, preparing to say goodbye.
“It has taught me that consistency and continuity matter – they create roots, relationships and a sense of belonging.
“I have been blessed with good health throughout my career and, apart from four maternity leaves, I have only had one period of absence lasting longer than a few days.”
