Sarah’s served over 900,000 dinners to her ‘family’ at school
HOUSEKEEPER Sarah Webb is hanging up her apron after almost half a century at Derby’s Royal School for the Deaf having served up an astonishing 912,000 school dinners.
Sarah was just 18 years old when she started working at the Ashbourne Road school and over the years she has worked for five different head teachers and married her husband Bob, who was employed at the school as a joiner.
Now she is joining Bob in retirement and looking forward to spending more time in the garden, although she knows she will “miss her school family” every day.
Sarah said: “I started here on June 1, 1975 and never for a minute did I imagine that I would still be here so many years later, but I can honestly say I have enjoyed almost every day.
“The children and staff have made it so enjoyable and I have been very lucky to have such a caring team, many of whom started when they were very young and have worked here for decades too.
“I kept putting off handing my notice in, I don’t even know why as the time is right to retire. But I will miss everyone greatly – especially the children.” Sarah has been responsible for the kitchen and domestic staff at the school and has seen many changes over the years, including the opening of on-site residential units.
Some of the biggest changes have been in the kitchen with the introduction of health and safety laws, COSHH training, allergen information and special diets although healthy and hearty homemade meals have always been on the agenda under Sarah’s management.
She said: “I learned on the job and I do love a rota, but there have been many changes involving a lot more paperwork, lots of training and using a computer.
“I had the fryer taken out of the kitchen years ago – we rarely have chips – and I still put a lot of effort into creating a menu which is healthy and balanced.
“We’ve created a veg patch on site too, although it’s full of rhubarb at the moment, but we’re trying to grow everything we eat and the children are involved in that as well.”
Head teacher Helen Shepherd said: “Sarah is absolutely irreplaceable and I’d say the school runs through her veins after so many years of dedicated service. “Both staff and children will miss her enormously and we very much hope that she will continue to come back to school regularly, especially to help with our heritage department.”
I kept putting off handing my notice in... I will miss everyone greatly – especially the children. Sarah Webb