MRS MOUNTFORD
Mrs Mountford, Miss Butlin
Mrs Mountford, Miss Butlin, Sandra, Janice
A-Level English Stalwarts
Tideway teacher
By Marion Milroy (Nee Lower)
My mum has told me Mrs Mountford died aged 95 just after Christmas. I was cross that I hadn't been able to attend her funeral as I had visited her at her flat in Dane Road Seaford to have a chat with her and her son Jim (if he was visiting) nearly every school holiday for the last 20+ years
She was a wonderful teacher who taught me all the technical stuff I needed to know to be more than someone who just enjoyed sewing!
The only photo I have of her was taken in the last week of my time at Tideway in July 1974. She looks really young and yet was already in her late 50's and coming up for 'retirement' from her school career before she embarked on a second career as seamstress at Glyndbourne.
In the days when you could do things on the spur of the moment I remember missing Mr Martin's english lesson to go to London on the train with her in order to buy beautiful fabric from Liberty's for the stock cupboard (which I chose!). There was no risk assessment or letter of consent from home - all I did was ring my mum at work from the payphone by the staff room to tell her I'd be late home and we were off!
At the time I knew my experience in the sixth form (surrounded by some memorable teachers) was special but its only now that I am almost the same age as Mrs Mountford was when we left - I appreciate what a special time it was.