Coleham Primary School caretaker Les Jones on his retirement

Shropshire Star

A Shrewsbury primary school is bidding farewell to their legendary caretaker as he prepares to hang up his broom for the final time.  Described as one of the last "great school caretakers", Leslie Jones, 66, has been the all-round handyman at Coleham Primary School in Shrewsbury for the last 12 years.  Not just known for his painting, decorating, sweeping and football retrieving, Mr Jones has earned a reputation for the starring role he plays in the school's yearly Christmas music videos.

Transcript

00:00OK then Les, so you've been the caretaker here for 10 years and you're retiring.

00:06I am.

00:07How does it feel?

00:08Yeah, it's about time. You know, I've worked for 50 odd years, so yeah.

00:14Yeah.

00:15Looking forward to it really.

00:16You're having a great last day, aren't you? Everybody seems...

00:18Yeah, all the mini-me's.

00:19That's it.

00:20Bringing back a few memories, yeah.

00:22And have you had good wishes from the staff?

00:24Oh yeah, brilliant.

00:26Any...

00:27I mean, you call them schools, a special school.

00:29Yeah, any good memories?

00:31Loads, yeah.

00:32Any you can share?

00:33Well, you only have to look on our past videos, Christmas and stuff.

00:38Yeah.

00:39Just have a laugh at you, you know.

00:40Yeah.

00:41Do the work and have a laugh, which is great.

00:43Yeah, so what are your plans for the future?

00:45Just not working, basically.

00:47Having me life back.

00:49That's it, that's it, fantastic.

00:51Well, all the best anyway then, Les.

00:53Thank you very much.

00:55And there's all the staff, dressed up as Les.

00:59And so he's off.

01:01He's off after ten years of working for the school.

01:04There we go.

01:05See you then, Les.

01:06All the best.

01:07Get my brush out the way.

01:09Don't go.

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