Plymouth College boarding house cleaner, Lenora Brimacombe, aged 76, is retiring after a staggering 48 years.
Known as ‘Brim’, Lenora joined the College in 1961 and has worked in the same section of the boarding house (Mannamead 2) ever since. Originally all boys, the house became home to girl boarders when the school went co-educational in the mid 1990s.
Earning two and six an hour and working every other Sunday, Brim’s main job when she started was organizing the boarders’ laundry. Since then her duties have encompassed most aspects of cleaning and she has worked under five sets of house parents.
“The boarding house has always been a home-from-home for me”, said Brim. “In the early days there was no matron or handyman so we were very involved with the boarders on a daily basis. All the cooking was done in the house as well and we were often down on our hands and knees scrubbing the floors! I’m not sure that it’s any easier these days, just different as we have more mod-cons.”
Originally from Elburton, Brim has lived in Crownhill for 54 years. She was widowed 14 years ago and has two children, five grandchildren and one great grandchild. She is looking forward to spending time with her family and friends and hopes to visit her sister in Canada. Retirement will also mean that she will be able to go swimming more often.
Housemistress, Mary Tippetts, said: “Brim has been more than a housekeeper in the boarding house, she has been a member of the family and all the staff and pupils are going to really miss her.”
