Shropshire Star

Teachers say fond farewell to college

Two Concord College teachers whose careers span more than 70 years have retired.

Published
Concord College Principal Neil Hawkins with Anne Kemp (left) and Alison Rudd-Clarke.

One of the them, Alison Rudd-Clarke, was the longest-serving teacher at Acton Burnell-based Concord with 29 years' service.

There were no classroom computers when she started at Concord as librarian having already qualified as a teacher and spending a year elsewhere.

She went on to teach English and Italian and then French and Spanish at Concord before becoming head of modern languages.

Alison, who lives in Church Stretton, said: "It has been a privilege to work at Concord College. I have enjoyed meeting students from all kinds of backgrounds.

"The college has more than doubled in size since I started."

But she is not planning on kicking back and relaxing into her retirement. Instead she has gained a place at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London to study for an MA in Islamic art and architecture starting part time in September for two years.

Anne Kemp has been in the teaching profession for more than 40 years, the last seven of which have been spent at Concord College teaching physics.

She said she had enjoyed being part of a team of physicists, sharing thoughts and ideas in different ways.

During her time at Concord she has lived at Pitchford, returning to her home in Tetbury at weekends and during college holidays.

She plans to be on the move again during her retirement to be nearer to her five grandchildren in Birmingham.

Concord College has also said farewell to two ESB teachers, Sue Turford and Alison Shaw.