Britain's oldest teacher who has taught at least 3,500 pupils is still going strong in the classroom - at the grand old age of 89. Dedicated Irene Basham has been teaching children for almost 70 years - getting her first primary class in 1947. The sprightly pensioner began teaching at just 20 and continued at the same primary school as a deputy then headteacher of its infant school until her retirement in 1992. However, when retirement from Farfield Primary School in Bradford, West Yorks., came the veteran teacher couldn't settle.