MADAM, Like many others I looked forward to the full report and coverage of the retiring staff members of John Kyrle High School and their input to the success of the school. To say the least I was appalled by the limited accolade.

The consensus of like minded people locally is that the press coverage was more in favour of the new intake of staff rather than the recognition of past dedicated and devoted staff who appear to be underrated and undervalued.

How many schools can boast of having the long service of 11 staff members who have given in excess of 300 years' service between them?

Where was the group photo instead of the collection of random photographs with one missing altogether?

Let us not forget also the two members of staff who gave decades of time on the Board of School Governors, besides the creditable service of Mrs Joyce Thomas.

It was known in May that the school was losing such a large number of its staff. Why wasn't an announcement put in the Ross Gazette informing past pupils, past colleagues and parents of these retirements. I'm sure many would have wished to give thanks by supporting and taking part in celebration events.

The contribution of this era of teaching justified a full page spread and I'm sure the press would have obliged, had the necessary information been forwarded as a priority and not as an afterthought.

We look forward to the 'legends of the future', but let us not forget the legends of the past.

A very grateful parent of past pupils,

Mrs Roz Owen

Editor's note: The Ross Gazette can only cover news and events which it is aware of. Although we knew personally about several of the members of staff retiring we were not aware of them all. We felt we could only cover their retirements in a way the school wished with the information it provided.