4 June 2013
We bid farewell to one of our much respected members of staff this half term. Marion Watson has been Biology Technician since 1992 and has worked under three Heads of Biology in that time and has seen the building of two science blocks and the demolition of part of the original science block. Prior to that Marion worked as a Medical Laboratory Technician at Victoria Hospital and, working from home, she sewed curtains for Sopers!
Being the Biology Technician she has been responsible for all the Biology practicals, including Year 11 and 6th form exam practicals. These can be varied, involving microbiology, experiments using plants, food tests, and investigating life in the school pond and nature area. She was also responsible for caring for the school gerbils and stick insects.
Married, to Peter with one son Graham, Marion when asked if science has changed much over the last twenty years she said "Although the Science remains much the same, the way the lessons are delivered has changed over the years with IT being incorporated in many lessons and for recording results from experiments. We no longer have children trying to tell us how to work the video recorder!"
On her retirement she said "In the short term my son is getting married in May so have much to look forward to. At Christmas I got my long service award, a Kindle Fire, so will be doing lots of reading. I will spend time gardening, walking and seeing parts of the country I have never visited. The beauty of retiring is I don't need to make plans as time is my own. The thing I will miss most is the friends I have made at school - Science is a great department to work in. I wont miss getting up at 6.30!"
Andy Pothecary, Senior Science Technician, said "Marion had consistently delivered high quality biology resources to the benefit of students and staff for just over 20 years. Her skills, knowledge and experience will be missed, as will her good humour, hard work and organisation. We have to move on and our new technician Greg White, a former student, has had the benefit of working with Marion for the last two weeks which has been a very positive experience for him. We wish Marion all the best in her retirement."
