An 80th birthday cake for a very special chap

Bournemouth Echo

3:00pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in Christchurch By Katie Clark

Meet Jack, the 80-year-old classroom helper

 

 

BIRTHDAY: Staff and pupils of Mudeford Infants School celebrate the 80th birthday of Jack Kynaston

A classroom volunteer is still helping out at school - at the age of 80.
Jack Kynaston has been volunteering at Mudeford Infants in Queens Road, Christchurch, for the past 15 years, helping youngsters with their reading as well as starting a dominoes club. To mark his 80th birthday, he was presented with a special cake by headteacher Duncan Churchill.
A former local policeman, Jack started helping out five mornings a week when he began bringing his granddaughter into school.
And as well as building impressive backdrops for school performances and wooden cars for the pupils to paint, he also keeps the staff entertained with his jokes and quips.

In honour of his special birthday, school governor Sarah Wood baked a masterpiece of a cake complete with edible dominoes for Jack to share with his year one class.
He said: “It’s a lovely surprise. I genuinely love everything I do here. It’s a pleasure to watch the youngsters grow up during the year and see them go on their way.
“I’ll keep coming as long as my wife lets me. Some of the things they come out with are brilliant. Every day is different here.”
Head teacher, Duncan Churchill said: “Jack is so well-known in the area. He started volunteering and he has been here ever since.

“Jack has seen two head teachers come and go. He is truly high-valued here and at the beginning of every year, there is a competition for who will get Jack in their class. He is very popular.
“The children love him. They can have a different relationship with him than they can with us, and for some he is a lovely grandfatherly figure for them. We are so lucky to have him