A COUPLE who have devoted more than half a century to teaching are packing up their books for the last time.
Julie and Ian Thompson are retiring after helping to educate generations of children.
Mr and Mrs Thompson, who are both 56, began teaching when they were 22 and moved to Colchester in 1987 when Colchester Sixth Form College opened.
Mr Thompson taught sociology at the college and was promoted to college vice principal in 2004.
Mrs Thompson taught at a number of schools and her association with Broomgrove Junior School in Wivenhoe goes back 23 years including five years as head.