Troyton Bunbury, from Archway, said he had learned to ‘try and go that extra mile to learn as much as you can’

A “DEDICATED” caretaker who devoted his life to a primary school has celebrated his New Year gong with a tribute to the “committed and disciplined” Windrush generation.

Troyton Bunbury, from Archway, was recognised for his services to education with a BEM in this year’s New Year honours list.

Mr Bunbury acted as the site manager for St Michael’s C of E Primary School in Highgate for over 20 years, where he was the “first person on call in the morning” and the “last person on site in the evening”. He retired last year, and is now working at a school in Tottenham.

“It was such a beautiful environment – everyone took pride in their jobs,” Mr Bunbury said of the school.
The work, which involved managing security, overseeing the school’s daily workings and groundskeeping, was not always straightforward.

“It’s on top of the hill, so we have a microclimate there. When it snows in London, nothing melts in St Michael’s, so you’re spending days shovelling snow,” he said.

Mr Bunbury said in the course of his life he had learned to “try and go that extra mile to learn as much as you can”.

Tracing his values back to his family, he said: “I came here age 11 from Guyana. So I’d probably say I’m the last of that Windrush generation. When my parents left for [England], we were left behind with our grand­parents. Those people in that kind of environment are hardworking, dedicated souls.

“They’re up at a certain time in the morning, they’re committed and disciplined, and I guess I picked that up from them.”

Mr Bunbury still remembers landing in Luton upon his arrival in England in the 1970s.

“It was a dark, dingy morning,” he said. Shortly after he found himself in Miranda Road, Archway, where he grew up.

After school he started work for British Telecom. “I was part of a group that went to Buckingham Palace to fit telephones. And 20 years on, I’m going back in a different capacity – I have had a really great journey,” he said.

Mr Bunbury said his award speaks to the importance of all support staff.

“When I received this award I said, ‘This isn’t just for me, this is for all those hardworking individuals who come out and toil every day.’ They’re very key to a school being successful, those people who are supporting the teachers every day.

“I had a conversation with a very dynamic caretaker recently. He said, ‘It’s a thankless task, what we do.’ It depends on the environment where you’re working, it depends on the leadership. I’ve been very fortunate, I must say… my story’s been different,” he said.

Knighthood for artist Perry

GRAYSON Perry (pictured), a longtime resident of Rosebery Avenue in the south of the borough, was given a knighthood in recognition of his services to the arts.

Sir Grayson, who has a studio in Barnsbury and campaigned to save the ceramics department at City and Islington College, told Channel 4 that he accepted his gong because “it’s more interesting to be inside the tent”.

The broadcaster, artist and writer said the award “feels extra special because it’s about what I’ve achieved… rather than any class position I hold”.

“I’m very flattered and honoured, and coming from a kind of working-class background, it kind of feels like… I’m definitely on a winning streak.”

Meanwhile, Tufnell Park’s Francesca Simon, who created the Horrid Henry series, was made an OBE for her services to literature.

Suzanne Kantor, who lives in Finsbury Park, was awarded a CBE for public service. She is director of personal tax, welfare and pensions at His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.