In 40 years, school caretaker Ron Holding has served under eight headteachers, cleaned up after 1,400 children and changed too many toilet rolls to count.

And on Tuesday last week, pupils past and present helped the 67-year-old mark the milestone with a special ceremony honouring his long career at St Paul’s Primary School in Primrose Hill.

Asked why he has never left, Mr Holding said simply: “I love the school.”

He added: “It’s the variety of the job. One day you could be sweeping the playground and the next, you’re at the Albert Hall at a school concert.”

Mr Holding, who lives next door in Elsworthy Road, started the job on March 10, 1975, after being interviewed by 13 school governors.

Since then, he has been a familiar and much-loved face and he is showing no signs of retiring any time soon.

“It has been making sure you can repair something, so children can’t un-repair it,” he said.