Skip to content

Teacher cheered in on final day after 43 years

Seb Cheer & Heidi Tomlinson
BBC News, Yorkshire
Watch the moment cycling teacher Gillian Furniss is applauded into work on her final day

A teacher who worked at the same primary school for 43 years said a guard of honour on her final day was "more than I ever expected".

Gillian Furniss began teaching at Belmont Grosvenor School in Birstwith, on the outskirts of Harrogate, in 1982, when it was then named Grosvenor House School.

The teacher, who was a regular sight cycling to work, was greeted with applause by former and current pupils, staff and parents who lined the school's driveway.

She said: "I took flight mode and pedalled like mad up the drive, got to the top, took a breath and came back down again. It was amazing!"

BBC/Heidi Tomlinson An woman with short white hair wears a T-shirt which says "retired" while offering a hug to a young woman who is standing in a group of teenagers.BBC/Heidi Tomlinson
Former pupils were among those who lined the route for Mrs Furniss's final cycle into school

"I probably broke the speed limit on the drive," she added.

Originally from Bradford, Mrs Furniss said she had always wanted to be a teacher and used to "practice on my dolls and the teddy bears".

Head teacher Sian de Gracia said Mrs Furniss was a "legend".

Ms de Gracia added: "She is just one of those teachers that just gets every single pupil that she meets.

"We knew it was going to be busy but I don't think we knew it was going to be quite that busy."

BBC/Mark Graham A line of children and parents is along the side of a long driveway, with a woman cycling down the middle, away from the camera.BBC/Mark Graham
Mrs Furniss said she had expected some people to gather, after being told not to arrive too early, but not to the extent they did

Among former pupils gathered for the guard of honour, Sage, 16, said Mrs Furniss was "the one who inspired me to do maths, through A-Levels as well".

Current pupil Louis said "everything" made Mrs Furniss great, while another, Greta, said she was "so enthusiastic about everything she teaches".

Their classmate Ed said: "I'm just sad for all the Year Fives who didn't get the chance for Mrs Furniss to teach them in Year Six."

Listen: At the school gates for Mrs Furniss's final day after 43 years

Mrs Furniss said it was a "very tough decision" to leave.

"When I saw my job advertised, I actually said, 'sounds good, can I apply for it?'"

Having run a knitting club at school, she said she would "knit something for myself" during retirement, as well as visiting her grandson in Dorset.

"It's the end of an era, but it's been a good era," she added.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

More stories like this