Tributes after former teacher dies at 102
A former deputy headteacher who was praised for her efforts during the Second World War has died at the age of 102.
Rene Lea, from Pant, who had lived independently until she was 100, died at the Woodland Residential Home at Morda on May 23.
Her funeral will be held at St Philip and St James Parish Church, Morton, on Monday at 2.30pm. Donations, in lieu of flowers, are for the Woodlands Residents' Fund and the British Red Cross.
Mrs Lea lived in Trefonen until she was 18 and won a scholarship from Trefonen School to the Oswestry Girls High School. She went on to spend 42 years teaching, beginning at Stiperstones School. Her niece, Mrs Margaret Cooke, said one of her first pupils continued to keep in touch with her until he passed away 12 months ago.
She moved to Trewern School in 1936 and when she was there helped to raise funds for the war effort by getting people to invest in national savings – something that led to her being invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party in 1946.
After attending St Mary's Training College, Bangor, in 1947 to gain her teaching certificate she became a teacher for army schools abroad teaching in Germany, Cyprus and Egypt. While in Egypt she met her future husband, Warrant Officer Arthur Lea, known as Jigger, who was her escort to ensure that she got to school safely. They married in Trefonen in 1952.
In 1958 her husband left the Army and they moved back to Shropshire where Mrs Lea became a teacher at Woodside and Albert Road School. She taught there, rising to become deputy head, until she retired in 1972.
Mr and Mrs Lea enjoyed gardening, joining the Llanymynech Gardening Club. After her husband died in 1997 Mrs Lea continued to live at their home until a fall. She leaves a sister Brenda and many nephews and nieces.
