Sadness as schools lose two teachers
Two Lancashire village schools are mourning the shock death of popular teachers.
St Patrick's Catholic Primary in Walton-le-Dale will close as a mark of respect on Thursday for the funeral of its "inspirational" headteacher Catherine Flood.
Mrs Flood, 52, died on June 2.
She had been on sick leave since Christmas, suffering with breast cancer, but is believed to have died following an unrelated operation.
She was undergoing treatment for cancer and had expected to return to school next term.
The majority of the school staff were already planning to take part in the Race For Life in Moor Park in aid of breast cancer as a tribute to their head.
Acting headteacher Kath Greave said the school community had been devastated by Mrs Flood's unexpected death.
She added: "Catherine Flood was an inspirational and special headteacher who adored our children as much as they adored her.
"Everyone connected with the school is devastated by her loss but we are working with support from the local authority to help our children and staff come to terms with this tragic news.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Catherine's family."
Mrs Flood took charge of the Higher Walton Road school in January 2002.
A statement on the school website said Mrs Flood would be greatly missed and added: "The school community will greatly miss her presence for a long time to come."
It added that Mrs Flood cared very deeply about the children.
Throughout her recent illness, she constantly asked about the children and was looking forward to returning to school to be with them.
Mrs Flood's leadership was applauded in a recent Ofsted report when inspectors said St Patrick's had a happy, hard working environment and the children, staff, parents and governors were very proud to be part of an excellent school.
The entire modern languages department at Bishop Rawstorne Language College in Croston was today attending the funeral of much-loved French teacher Carole Morton who died during the half-term break.
Mrs Morton, 68, had been at the Out Lane school for more than 25 years and played a key role in the school becoming the county's first specialist language college.
She was responsible for the school's and village's long-standing and successful French twinning programme and spearheaded a French speaking club for locals.
Assistant headteacher Peter Rawlinson said Mrs Morton would "leave a big hole" at the school.
He added that the former assistant language college manager was very popular with pupils and staff.
She was recently diagnosed with cancer and did not return to school after the Easter holidays.
Mr Rawlinson said: "Her death was so sudden. She was only diagnosed four weeks ago. She was here teaching at Easter."
Mrs Morton, who lived in Penwortham, had three grown up daughters who followed her into teaching.
>> Vote in our latest web poll
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Preston
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 14 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
