A SHORTHAND teacher who has coached Herald and Western Morning News reporters for about 11 years has retired.

June Barker, 78, from Wembury, had a tearful farewell at the paper's headquarters this week, 62 years after learning the specialist skill.

END OF THE LINE: June Barker (centre front with flowers) with The Herald editor Bill Martin and members of staff she has trained over the years. June has retired from teaching shorthand at the age of 78

She said: "It was an emotional day but I felt it was the right time to leave. My students were all lovely at the paper."

June first learnt Pitmans, later updating to Teeline shorthand, and spent her first secretarial job working for The New Chronicle and Star.

She then worked for the general manager of Debenhams in Harrow before moving to the Westcountry in the 1970s.

She took a job as a school secretary where she said she fell into teaching, because a teacher was off at what was then Plymouth's College of Further Education.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it and my boss said he'd support me through my teaching qualifications," she said.

Clair Skelley, PA to Bill Martin, editor of The Herald, remembers being taught by June at college in the late 1980s.

She said: "She was more than a teacher to many of the students. She saw people through pregnancy's, illness and the teething problems some young reporters face."

Edd Moore, Herald reporter, said: "June was the perfect teacher. She was calm and full of encouragement but she was stern enough to ensure you did your homework."

June was presented flowers and vouchers for a special meal at The Horn of Plenty, one of her favourite restaurants.