Whistling caretaker leaves school

A much-loved member of staff at St Anne's School in Wanganui is retiring after nearly 14 years - caretaker Peter Thiele.

Principal Karl Zimmerman said Mr Thiele had been the hero of all the kids, a great friend to the staff, and you always knew when Peter arrived in the morning.

"You'd hear him whistling ... and it's always a very happy person who whistles."

But it was all the tasks Mr Thiele managed around the school, from building a classroom to renovating the hall, keeping the grounds and interiors in pristine order to coaching the odd rugby team, cracking endless jokes, balancing a broom on his chin and cooking up magnificent roast dinners for the staff at Christmas every year.

Mr Thiele's admits it's been a tough decision to retire, but says that now that Mr Key is paying him he can afford to let loose a bit and go caravanning with his wife, visit his grandchildren, go on fishing trips and spend more time with family than he's been able to while he's been working .

Even though he'll miss the staff, it's really the kids, their conversations, questions and fun that he will really find difficult to give up, he said.

"I love those kids, I really do. You know I might be feeling a bit grouchy some mornings, but the minute I get to school and am surrounded by all the kids it just cheers me up straight away."

His last day is this Friday and the school has planned an entire afternoon farewell with sports and a slap-up afternoon tea. In the evening it's a big dinner with the staff at a local restaurant.

But in the meantime he's busy ensuring all the new scooter ramps he's just built are in place and showing his replacement the ropes.

"There are things he'll need to learn ... how to balance a broom, for example, on his chin ... now that's very important."