A NEEDLEWORK teacher said sew long to her students for the last time this week as she retired after 20 years at Melbourn Village College. Gill Collett has been teaching embroidery for the college s adult education department since 1988. Her final class

A NEEDLEWORK teacher said "sew long" to her students for the last time this week as she retired after 20 years at Melbourn Village College.

Gill Collett has been teaching embroidery for the college's adult education department since 1988.

Her final class took place on Tuesday, and she enjoyed tea and cakes to mark the occasion.

She said: "I've been here for 20 years in total, and been doing this current class for the last 15.

"An old teacher of mine, Mrs Jude, was the one who got me into teaching, and when she retired I took over her class.

"We do all sorts of embroidery, whatever the ladies fancy.

"It's been really good fun, and I've loved every minute of it."

Members of the group presented Gill with a bouquet of flowers and gift vouchers as a leaving present.

She will be beginning her retirement by taking a holiday to America with her husband Koran.

She said: "It will be nice to have a bit more freedom to go on holiday outside of term time, but I will really miss everybody. It's a social event as much as a class."

And Gill has no plans to hang up her needle and thread just yet.

"I'll still be doing embroidery at home, that's for sure. I've got a lot of projects to finish.

"My husband says our house is like a shrine to sewing," she said.

The college is currently searching for a replacement teacher for the class, which meets every Tuesday afternoon.

Anyone who is interested should contact the adult education office on 01763 260566.