A 'delightful surprise' lay in store for a former school teacher who touched the lives of everyone who passed through her classroom. Care home resident Margaret McMorron retired from her job as a primary school teacher 30 years ago.

Margaret’s teaching career began when she was just 19-years-old. Inspired by her love of education and school, she attended Didsbury teaching college and later qualified, spending 30-years teaching the reception class at St Paul’s Primary School, in Withington.

In her retirement Margaret, who has one daughter, Fiona, enjoyed baking and decorating wedding cakes as well as travelling the world. At 91, she is now a resident of Abney Court care home in Cheadle – who provide full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care.

It was while living at Abney Court, her care team learned that the retired primary school teacher expressed the desire to be reunited with her reception class. Determined to make it happen, the team arranged for five of Margaret’s former pupils to pay her a surprise visit, while others who couldn’t make the special occasion wrote her letters.

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Rita Ralston, a parent of a child Margaret once taught, wrote her a list of what her favourite pupils are up to now. On the day, she got to see photographs of her former pupils all grown up, and learned more about their families and the careers they went on to have.

One former student told her: "I just want to say thank you for giving me and fellow students the best start in life. It’s because of teachers like you that we thrive in school".

Following the reunion, Margaret said: "I was very surprised to see my old colleagues and students, it was a very special day. We reminisced about a lot of things and we watched a video recording that someone had brought in of the last play I did at school called Baboska."

She added: "We talked about many things – with the students we talked about what they are up to now and with my colleagues about what they are doing in retirement.

"I enjoyed spending time reading letters from the children and have written back to them all."

Zoe Smart, Home Manager at Abney Court, said: "Margaret always speaks so fondly of her teaching days, and the team at Abney Court were delighted to organise such a wonderful opportunity for Margaret to reminisce on her younger years.

"It was fantastic to see Margaret reconnect and share happy memories of her successful teaching career. There was an amazing atmosphere with everyone chatting and sharing their life updates with one another."