Obituaries 

(All obituaries prior to 2022 have been archived by The Alumnae Office. Please contact The Alumnae Office for further information or to access a past notice.)

Bedford High School for Girls

Susan Beardsworth (née Mace, formerly Miller, BHS 1954)

Sue sadly passed away in April 2023. She lived with her husband, Roger, in New Zealand. Sue enjoyed watercolour painting, patching and quilting.

Pauline Burgess (former Junior School teacher, BHS 1995-2009)

Pauline sadly away in December 2022 after a short illness.

Sheila Cubitt (former member of staff BHS 1955 – 1976)

Sheila passed away in July 2022, aged 92 years. Sheila was born and grew up in Norwich, and along with her older sister, Heather, was educated at Norwich High School for Girls before Roehampton teacher training college. She joined the BHS Junior School in 1955. Always popular, Sheila really enjoyed Art and her form room was always a riot of colour. Her History lessons were often brought to life with creative friezes she had made.  Sheila later joined the The Perse School for Girls, along her sister, Heather, who was Head of History in the Senior School.

Barbara Dalton (née Elphick, BHS 1946)

Barbara died in March 2022 aged 94 yrs. Barbara married Lieutenant Colonel Roy Dalton and during his career lived in many different countries before living in London. The couple had three children Michael, Mark and Catherine. Barbara returned to the BHS for a period in the 1980’s as a teacher of Classics.

Catherine Victoria ‘Vicky’ Frossell (née Boutwood, BHS 1957)

Vicky passed away in October 2022, aged 83 years. She was the beloved wife of the late Dennis and loving mum to James, Tom, Charlotte and Emily, as well as grandmother and friend to many. 

Claire Harvey (née Aylett, BHS 1954)

Claire passed away in January 2022, aged 86 years. She was the beloved wife of Philip and mother of Ian, Neal, Colin and Lee.

Florence Johnson (née Collier, BHS 1954)

Florence died in October 2022, age 87.  Sister of Patricia Farquhar (BHS 1960). She was proud of her school and remembered the dramatic productions by members of the BHS staff in the early 1950s, particularly Alice in Wonderland.

Jill Knox (née Mackness, BHS 1958) 

Died in May 2022, aged 82. Loved wife of Robert (Bob), sister of the late Robin, mother of Caroline, Patrick and Callum, and grandmother to Abby, Harry, Bella, Silas, Cameron, Athis and Findlay.

Liz Rawlinson (former member of staff c. BHS 1975-1984)

Liz passed away in July 2021. Liz was always very proud of the fact that she taught three subjects and had to be replaced by a number of different teachers – Geography, Social Biology and Economics. She had particularly fond memories of working under Mrs Galley in the Geography Department.

Megan Traini (née Roberts, BHS 1946)

Megan died in January, 2022 at the age of 93. Megan is survived by her older sister, Gene (BHS, 1944) and younger brother, John (BS, 1950), as well as three children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. At school Megan loved hockey. She studied Medicine at University of Liverpool, where she met her husband, Douglas. They lived in Australia and Uganda before returning to the UK in 1966 when Douglas was offered a position at Dundee Dental Hospital. Megan worked the Medical Sciences Institute at Dundee University, eventually becoming a lecturer in Anatomy.

Ruth Weaver (née Prosser, BHS 1982)

Ruth sadly died in September 2022. Ruth was married with two children and lived in Tunbridge Wells.

Nicola Young (née Treby, BHS 1984)

Nicola died in October 2020 after a brave fight with cancer. After school she trained at Cambridge Marlborough College and worked as Legal Secretary/PA. She leaves her husband Ben and a family of four. Nicky kept in touch over the years with Katy Zwetsloot, Sara Jane Crozier and Clare McCracken. Nicky was a wonderful, strong and caring human, who is greatly loved. 

Nicola Young (née Treby, BHS 1984)

Dame Alice Harpur School

Dr Richard Hopkin (Former Head of Careers and a Biology teacher, 1988-2006), 6th September 1944-11th September 2025

Richard passed away peacefully on 11 September 2025. Leaving behind a legacy of kindness, dedication to education, and love for his family. Richard was born on 6 September 1944 in Whitchurch, East Glamorgan, Wales, his arrival coincided with the wartime, so his mother, Renée, temporarily evacuated from London to give birth to Richard, and to be nearby their Welsh family.

Richard had a happy childhood, full of activities like trips to museums, and out into the country, north of London, to country houses and ruined castles. He grew up in Parliament Hill near Hampstead Heath and spent many hours playing on the heath. His father started a hockey group with Richard, his brother Edward, and their friends. They often played hockey on the heath together.

His father, Bryan, who was fond of reading would frequently buy him books, this included the Puffin series for children, which his father would read aloud to Richard and his brother each night until long after they were able to read for themselves.

Richard went to Gospel Oak primary school and William Ellis secondary school. He had good friends from both schools which he remained in contact with, having regular meet ups over the years; these lifelong friendships spanned over 70 years.

With a French mother, Richard spent most summers in the south of France, developing a love for the language and culture that continued into retirement through his participation in a French conversation group. He quickly realised his French was limited to teenage vocabulary of the 1960’s and 70’s and he would need to work to improve this to keep up with modern and intellectual discussions.

Richard’s father was clever and diligent; he made a career in the Civil Service as an Economist and later became the Chief Economic Advisor to the Government and was appointed CBE in 1961 and knighted in 1971, which Richard was immensely proud of.

Richard had an older brother, Edward. Edward lived for most of his adulthood in Europe, in Belgium and later spending retirement in the Netherlands. Richard and Edward would see each other annually when Edward came to the UK. There was always laughter and camaraderie, and fond memories of good times together.

Education was important to Richard. After completing his A-Levels at William Ellis he went on to study and complete a degree in Biology at University College London. From there he received a grant for a Master of Science in Oceanography at the University of Southampton which he very much enjoyed.

In 1968 Richard married Christine and together they moved to the Isle of Man where Richard studied for a PhD at the Marine Biological Station in Port Erin, which was part of the University of Liverpool. He researched the effects of pollution on a seaweed called Laminaria Hyperborea.

Toward the end of completing his PhD Richard became a biology and careers Teacher at the Buchan School, in Castle Town Isle of Man. Richard taught on the Isle of Man for seventeen years and was a well-respected teacher and has kept in touch with some of his students, who of course are now parents and grandparents themselves.

Between 1978 and 1982, Richard and Christine welcomed their three children - Emma, Kate, and Caroline. Island life was filled with family adventures, coastal walks, joyful weekends, and weekly family visits to the swimming pool.

In 1988, the family relocated to the mainland, where Richard continued teaching at Dame Alice Harpur School in Bedford. Richard was Head of Careers and taught biology for another eighteen fulfilling years.

His birthday tradition of family outings to Wicksteed Park in Kettering became a cherished annual event, the grand prix cars and bumper cars were always a favourite. Richard and Christine always enjoyed a Sunday afternoon walk and when his children were young, this could include picking chestnuts for the Sunday roast or blackberry picking for making jam, or more likely his homemade wine. Wine which left its lasting mark when it exploded over the clean laundry in the airing cupboard.

A lover of music, Richard had an eclectic taste and regularly attended concerts at The Stables in Milton Keynes and the Derngate in Northampton. He continued to travel widely, enjoying holidays both in the UK and abroad.

Richard was a devoted grandfather to Amber, Jamie, and Jessica, spending countless hours playing games, visiting parks, and sharing laughter. His warmth, wit, and wisdom touched all who knew him.

In 2006 Richard retired from DAHS and accepted a part time role as a student advisor at Bedford Modern School supporting sixth form students with university applications. He retired in full in 2009 and enjoyed sixteen years of retirement. He remained active in retirement, joining the Rothsay Education Centre, leading walks across London and Hampstead Heath, and attending classes in French and current affairs.

Richard’s funeral was held on 17 October 2025 at Norse Road Crematorium. His family extends heartfelt thanks to all who attended and supported them during this time. The love and kindness shown have been a great comfort.

He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

Jenny Clark (Former member of staff BHS 1967-1974 and DAHS 1978-1998) 

Jenny died in August 2022. Jenny joined BHS, teaching in the Junior School (1967-1971) and then as the Boarding House Mistress at Westlands in 1971 - 1974. She joined DAHS in 1978 as the Boarding House Mistress, later teaching Year 3 from 1981. A kind and popular member of staff Jenny retired in 1998.

Nicola Maughan (1982)

Nicola passed away in May 2022 following a long illness.

Dr Angela Robinson (née Jeffs, DAHS 1961)

Angela died in December 2021. Angela trained as a Doctor at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, before training as a Haematologist. She became Medical Director of the National Blood Authority, pioneering treatment for Leukaemia. She was one of the first DAHS students to qualify in Medicine.

Ayleen Thomas (née Bull, DAHS 1957 and former History teacher at DAHS 1982-1999)

Ayleen died in July 2022. Ayleen was a friend of fellow DAHS teacher, Wendy Walters.

Hilary Churchill (née Wright, DAHS 1955)

Passed away peacefully on 27th June 2023. She was at DAHS from 1948 until 1955 and stayed an extra term to take the Civil Service Board exams. She married Richard Churchill - an old Bedford modernian in 1958 and they had three children - I am the youngest. After a career in the Civil Service (HMRC) mum had a career break to bring up her family and then trained as a teacher. She was a Year 11 teacher at Rickley Middle School in Bletchley Milton Keynes for over 20 years, retiring in 1997. Hilary and Richard enjoyed a long retirement of travelling and Hilary continued her love of sewing and dress making, including making a beautiful, made to measure wedding dress for each of her daughters. Daughter Mary Churchill-McGowan (née Churchill, DAHS 1988). 

Miss Suzanne Morse, Headmistress at DAHS 1970-1990
Died 17th December 2012, aged 82. 

During her time as Headmistress of Dame Alice Harpur School, Miss Morse made a difference to thousands of people’s lives. Her gentleness, wisdom, poise and thoughtfulness inspired genuine warmth in her pupils and staff. She was a woman of great dignity and blessed with a great sense of humour but also one with an iron will who could see through pretence.

During 20 years as Headmistress, she saw many changes to the education system and remained dedicated to ensuring the very best  education was available to as many girls as possible. She persuaded the Governors to approve the use of the endowment for a bursary scheme, a scheme she felt passionate about and one that has had, and continues to have, an enormous, positive impact on a great many women and girls. Her legacy continues in Bedford and the wider world.