One of the most senior members of staff at the borough’s university college is retiring at the end of the month - and is off on her travels.

Mary Eaton, vice principal at St Mary’s University College, retires at the end of the month and said she is taking a year out to visit friends and travel.

Dr Eaton, who has worked at the Twickenham university college since 1976, will leave her post on October 31 and said it is her colleagues she will miss most.

“It has been a privilege and pleasure to work with colleagues who make up the vibrant educational community that is St Mary’s,” she added.

Dr Eaton joined St Mary’s in 1976 to teach the sociology of education and of crime and deviance and went on to become head of the sociology department and then, in 1993, a vice-principal.

Over 33 years she said she had seen a plenty of changes at the Waldegrave Road university college - a part of the University of Surrey until recently.

“I suppose the growth of the college is the change that makes the biggest difference,” she added. “When I came to St Mary’s it was a much smaller institution and one would know most of the students and, without a doubt, all of the staff.

“People had a sense that they belonged to the institution.

“As the college grew, and it had to grow to survive, it had to take its place within the university sector, meaning it had to be research-active as well as very good on teaching.

“I think that one of the greatest challenges, therefore, has been to keep going the sense of the whole college community.

“When I leave it will be the people I miss most.”

Dr Eaton said her next major venture will be a sabbatical year and travelling to visit friends.

She added: “There aren’t any firm plans – except a plan not to have any firm plans.”

Arthur Naylor, St Mary’s principal, paid tribute to “the immense contribution Dr Eaton has made to the development of the University College and its mission in the various posts she has held since her appointment in 1976”.