Ross High School said farewell to PE teacher Jenny Clelland on Friday, as she retired after 40 years at the school.

Staff members gathered in the school's assembly hall to bid a fond farewell to Mrs McLelland, and presentations were made.

She was given flowers by the staff, the PE department where she worked and by the current sixth year pupils.

In an emotional speech to the staff, Mrs Clelland thanked all those involved during her remarkable four-decade spell at the school.

She said: "Who can remember what they were doing in 1975? I was here, wearing flares, and teaching at Ross High.

"It may seem like a long time ago, and that's because it is."

She worked for 16 years as a senior teacher, and for three years with the Tranent social integration partnership, a project she "loved every minute of".

And an emotional Mrs Clelland told the Courier that a lot had changed since she started teaching four decades ago.

"I've taught from primary one right through to adult classes, and I've taught in the local cluster primary schools as well - not many people do that these days, when you come into a high school they normally just stay there.

"I feel that 40 years is a big achievement but it is now time for me to move on and do new things."

And she admitted her last day was "a happy sad occasion", but she she sung the praises of the school, its staff and the pupils, despite some difficult periods.

"I worked with the Rosla pupils, when the school leaving age was raised to 16 and those were some of the most difficult pupils I've had to deal with but all the pupils have been brilliant.

She wished the school all the best, before joining the senior pupils in a ceilidh on Friday morning.

And Paul Reynolds, the school's headteacher, paid tribute to the retiring PE teacher, who won the inaugural Radio Forth teacher of the year award

He said: "Jenny has played many roles over her 40 years of service - PE, PSE and Enterprise, to name just a few.

"Jenny is loved by many and her hard work is recognised and admired by the kids and we are privileged to have worked alongside her.

"She will be missed."

And colleague Janette Thomson added: "Jenny epitomises professionalism, she takes her job very seriously and puts her heart and soul into the kids."