ONE dale school cook thought she would be able to “sneak off quietly from work” to celebrate her 70th birthday.
However, pupils at Green Lane Primary School, in Barnard Castle, had different ideas and presented her with a homemade cake, present and cards during their weekly assembly.
Lilian Carlington, 70, has been cook at the school for the past 15 years and has been serving up to 200 lunches a day to children and staff every day ever since.
She said she was overwhelmed with the presentation, adding: “As my birthday was on Saturday, I did think I would get away without any fuss. But it was lovely.
“The school and the children are just like a family.”
Ten-year-old Oli Linsley even baked her a chocolate cake, with the help of his grandmother.
He decorated the cake with all of her favourite sweet treats and presented it during the assembly when all students sang happy birthday.
