SPONSORED BY DONATELLO’S

Winner: Daphne Jackson

DAPHNE Jackson, affectionately known as Daff by her pupils, is at the front desk at Blatchington Mill School for every breakfast, break and lunch, offering students help if they get caught up in the hubbub or have lost their lunch cards.

She’s approachable and a calm face in the sometimes chaotic rush of hundreds of children all anxious to get their food so they can get back to the important matter of gossiping with their friends.

Daphne said: “It feels awesome actually, I never thought I’d actually get it.

“When my boss told me they had gone and put me through for it, that’s all I could say was “pardon” – I was so surprised.”

And she was even more taken aback when she found out she had made it onto the shortlist.

She added: “I’m not one to be in the limelight at all, I’m quite happy to work in the background – I just do my job.”