A VERY special guest flew into Whitchurch Primary School at the end of term ? and provided a huge surprise for one of its members of staff. After a dramatic fly-past, a Puma helicopter from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire landed in the school field, navigated by former Whitchurch School pupil Flt Lt Mark Biggadike, whose mother, Diane, was due to retire from the school after 22 years as a teaching assistant. One staff member compared Diane?s surprise and delight at the visit of her son with Venus William?s reaction to winning Wimbledon this summer, so amazed was she at the dramatic visit. For the next two hours, children at the school were treated to detailed tours of the aircraft by the crew, who were all given special Whitchurch teddy bears as a momento of their visit. Diane, who has mainly worked with Year 1 and reception children during her time at Whitchurch, said she had mixed feelings on her retirement: ?They?ve been the happiest years of my life. I consider I?ve been very privileged to have seen children develop from the reception year all the way through the school to when they leave. To feel you?ve had some input in their lives is absolutely fantastic.? Although Diane said she would be sad to leave the school and she would miss the children, she was looking forward to spending more time with her husband, Brian, who has also recently retired. Headteacher Angela O?Shea-Warman said: ?Diane is a wonderful person and has been a fantastic asset to the school; very supportive, calming and patient. ?She has brought so much joy to the school and we will miss her very much.?