LUNCHTIME at one Bexley school will not be the same after its cook retired after working there for 20 years.

Staff and pupils at Merton Court School, Knoll Road, Sidcup, gave Linda Muddock a rousing send-off after she cooked her last meals there.

Mrs Muddock, 52, known by the pupils as Mrs Linda, was producing lunches for around 300 children and nearly 40 staff every day. Now she has decided to retire.

Mrs Muddock, from Sidcup, has two grown-up children and is off to see her son in Australia for an extended visit.

As a parting gift, the school bought her a chrome lamp for her veranda.

School principal Christopher Price said: “We all loved her. Nothing seemed to ruffle her.

“She was very attentive towards the children, especially those with special dietary requirements.”

He added: “She will be missed, but not forgotten.”