Dumbarton teacher received guard of honour from pupils after three decades of education

Marie Thérèse Docherty has been teaching for 39 years, the last 32 of them at St Joseph’s Primary in Helensburgh.

Pupils sent her off with a series of surprises, including a talent show prepared in secret.

But they also raised hundreds to offer to charity - a school in Malawi named after her mum.

“I loved my year teaching there and will dearly miss the school family - because that’s what it was like at St Joseph’s, a family,” she told the Reporter. “It was very emotional.”

Miss Docherty, the youngest of four girls, is the last of the sisters to retire and she said she was looking forward to spending time with them and working with the school in Africa.

Named after their mum, Nora Docherty, who passed away in 2005, the primary school was set up in 2007 and now has quadrupled in size to 2,500 pupils, 19 teachers, a nursery school for 100 and an ante-natal clinic.

The Nora Docherty School in Malawi will be getting extra support from St Joseph's pupils to mark a favourite teacher's retirement

They also have an ambulance that can now get expectant mums to hospital from the village of Chiluzi - a journey they would previously have made by foot.

Youngsters get food every day and they are provided with uniforms and mosquito nets and vaccinations. Fifteen pupils currently attend private secondary boarding school and the foundation is supporting eight young people through further education.

Pupils at St Joseph’s raised £570.82 towards helping the Nora Docherty School by having a raffle, just one of their farewell gestures.

There was a surprise assembly where youngsters performed songs and dances, all prepared outwith her knowledge by rehearsing outdoors.

She was gifted flowers and a special memory book filled with photos and messages from pupils.

Miss Docherty was even put on a throne and topped with a crown to honour her years of service.

Marie-Thérèse Docherty was the star of the show as she retired from 32 years at St Joseph's Primary in Helensburgh

Principal teacher Claire Thomson said: “Last week at a special school Mass, she was presented with a medal and certificate by Monsignor John Hughes for her service to Catholic education.

“On her last day pupils formed a guard of honour in the playground and applauded her for her years of service to the school. The family of St Joseph’s Primary and Pre-5 Unit wish Miss Docherty a long, happy and healthy retirement.”

Still living in the home she was born in Dumbarton, Miss Docherty has two sisters who were also in the teaching profession, with oldest Joan McDonald having been a head teacher, and Margaret-Mary Cummings having been a depute head at St Joseph’s.

It was Margaret-Mary who set up the school named for their mother, with husband Peter, and Miss Docherty said she hopes now to be able to visit.

“I was working and now that I have retired, I hope to go and help with the day-to-day work with the school,” she said.

“Having recently turned 60 and dedicating my life to education, the time has now come to enjoy some different challenges in life and spend some more time with my family and friends.”

Marie-Thérèse Docherty was the star of the show as she retired from 32 years at St Joseph's Primary in Helensburgh

That will include third sister Patricia Walsh, and nephews Charles and Gavin and great nephew Kelvin.

Her early years of teaching were at schools around Helensburgh and Dumbarton, as well as five years at St Martin’s in Renton.

But it was St Joseph’s that gained three decades of Miss Docherty’s experience, mostly P1-3.

She added: “Everyone was so kind and gave me such a wonderful send-off. They are friends as well as colleagues. The children and parents were lovely and like a second family.”