Mrs Shona Barclay has retired after 17 years as a nursery teacher in the area and Mrs Sheila Sutherland after 19 years as a primary teacher at Auchenblae.

Mrs Barclay was the first teacher when council-run nursery classes began in the Mearns and she had Sharon Massie as her nursery nurse. The first children she taught are now 21.

Mrs Barclay taught for six years at Laurencekirk, Fettercairn and Redmyre, then a further seven at Laurencekirk, Fettercairn and Auchenblae.

The next three years were at Auchenblae and Fettercairn and the last year at Auchenblae alone.

Jodi Scott has been nursery nurse with Mrs Barclay for the past eight years.

Mrs Sutherland, who belongs to the area, taught in Arbroath and in various schools in Aberdeen, before making her way "home" to a job at Auchenblae 19 years ago.

Mrs Sutherland and Mrs Barclay are pictured with head teacher Mr Ronald Adamson, Sharon Massie, right and Jodi Scott.