Anna Hrynkiw, from Longthorpe, Peterborough, taught at St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School in Eastfield for 31 years before retiring in December last year.

And to reward her for her long service at the school she was presented with the Benemerenti medal.

The medal is given out by the Pope to recognise dedication to the Catholic Church and the community around it.

Along with the medal, she was also given a large framed certificate signed by Pope Benedict XVI recognising her achievement.

Mrs Hrynkiw was meant to be presented with the award in December when she retired, but problems with transporting it to Peterborough meant that it was finally handed over by Bishop of East Anglia Michael Evans more recently.

Mrs Hrynkiw said: “The school held a special mass for me, before the presentation.

“When I was told about the award in December it came as a real shock. I knew the Bishop was coming to the school, but I thought it was to see the school play. I could not believe it when I was told about the award. It was really special.”

Mrs Hrynkiw taught at the school, in Park Lane, from January 1977, until her retirement almost exactly 31 years later.

During her time at the school she held a variety of positions and responsibilities, and taught every year group.

However, she was mostly associated with the upper school, and the Year 6 pupils who were preparing for life in secondary school.

She said that on her visit back to St Thomas More, she realised how much she missed the children.

She said: “It was great to see them all again.

“They were all really pleased to see me when I went back. It was very emotional.

“Over the 31 years I was there I saw a lot of changes, and taught a lot of subjects, so I do miss the school, but I am also enjoying my retirement.”

Before she left the school, Mrs Hrynkiw planted a cherry tree in the school field to mark the three decades working there.