PUPILS, parents and staff paid a special goodbye to headteacher Vanessa Hughes as she left her job to work in an orphanage.

Mrs Hughes, of Marlow C of E Infants School, left the school on Thursday, July 21, after more than seven years in the post as headteacher, and two as deputy head.

She was greeted with a farewell service which saw more than 200 people attend the school in Sandygate Road. These included around 180 children, their parents and friends.

Children sang songs and hymns for Mrs Hughes before handing her gifts, which included a wooden swing.

She was also given signed photos of the children, a farewell card and staff handed her two sleeping bags for her voyage to Tanzania, where she will teach young children with her husband, Phil.

Mrs Hughes, of Beaconsfield, said: "It was lovely. I had such a good time.

"The children have made it all worthwhile. I will miss them, the school community, and the parents."

Mrs Hughes will spend three months teaching at the orphanage near Lake Victoria before she plans to go travelling. This will hopefully include a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Emily Richardson, deputy head of the school, said: "She Mrs Hughes has been fantastic.

"She has been very helpful and supportive to me. The service was also a nice end for the year two students who will be going to Holy Trinity in September."

The new headteacher next year will be Elizabeth Toohig, who is coming from a school near Aylesbury.

Mrs Hughes' achievements during her reign included the school being awarded the DfES School Achievement Award in 2001 for excellent SATS results.