MRS POPE, a lady who taught in Crediton for over 20 years, has passed away at the age of 91. She will be sadly missed by family and friends, especially her husband Les.

She and Les were married for 65 years. At her funeral she was described as "an exceptional woman."

Born in Derbyshire, she came from Devonshire stock and was related to the Way family of Crediton. Her mother was one of 17 children born at Spicers, near Sandford.

She had loved school, even when she had to walk several miles a day there and back. Her father was gardener on large estates and she grew up with a happy home life.

Although she had dreamed of becoming a doctor, she did a two year teacher training course at Salisbury where she excelled at athletics as well as history.

Her first teaching post was in Tiverton before marrying Les, in 1944 at Axminster, where her family had moved when she was 12.

After the war she and Les moved to Crediton and Mrs Pope took a teaching post at St Luke's training college. This was followed by a spell at Burnthouse Lane, Exeter, teaching older children. After their daughter, Marion, was born, Mrs Pope went back to teaching, first at Landscore and then Hayward's.

When Shelley School (now QECC Lower School) opened in 1962, Mrs Pope taught there as head of history until she retired in 1976.

She had been fighting a debilitating illness for 30 years, but had an extremely active mind. Speaking at her funeral her grandson, David Franks, described her as being "brave, funny, loving and caring, not just about her family, but the wider community."

People always felt uplifted after a chat with her and she was one of those rare people who listened to what people had to say."

Mrs Pope was a former member of the Crediton Women's Institute and enjoyed cooking and reading.

The funeral service, at Crediton Parish Church, was conducted by the Rector, the Rev Nigel Guthrie. The funeral arrangements were conducted by Andrew and Martin Wreford of Le-Roy Funeral Service.

Andrew said that he was privileged to be asked to conduct the funeral arrangements as he was a former pupil of Mrs Pope. He said she was held in very high regard.

Donations to the National Osteoporosis Society, in memory of Mrs Pope, may be sent to: Le-Roy Funeral Service, 94/95 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LB.