A senior school meals assistant is retiring from a Surbiton infants' school after nearly a quarter of a century of dedicated service.

Roz Clarke, 64, of Malvern Road, who started work as a dinner lady in 1981, is leaving her job at Maple Infants' School in Maple Road at the end of the summer term on July 22.

She said school dinners had got better through the years.

She said: "There is much more choice than there used to be. In the old days, meals were always a standard meat and two veg, plus a sticky pudding.

"Now there is pasta, salads and a lot more fruit. Meals have definitely improved."

She said she was looking forward to more days out and weekends away.

She added: "I have had very happy times here but I am looking forward to spending more time with my husband Malcolm, who retired two years ago."

She said: "Many of my team are long servers and I have really enjoyed being around the children and the staff.

"It has been a happy time, but hard work. Children are not as disciplined as they used to be."

Mrs Clarke also works as a carer for elderly and infirm people in Kingston and helps out in a dress agency.

Headteacher Jean Cutts, who is also retiring this year after 14 years at the school, said Mrs Clarke was a great member of the team.

She said: "She is a lovely lady who has been very loyal and hardworking in her job. She leads a team of five and is also responsible for supervising the children in the playground. She is a very active woman and has shown great commitment in giving up time in the middle of the day for so long."

The school is holding a special assembly for Mrs Clarke on July 20, who has donated three hanging birdbaths to the school.

ygordon@london.newsquest.co.uk