WARM tributes have been paid to an “animated and caring” woman who taught at schools in Abergele and Rhyl.
Elizabeth Brown, who taught English at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan and Rhyl High School in the 1990s, died suddenly aged 71 on Friday, January 12.
She is survived by her daughter, Katie; her nephews, Tim, Chris and Russell; and her sister-in-law, Sue.
Born in Liverpool, Elizabeth lived in London before moving to Wales in the mid-1990s, settling in Rhyl in roughly 1997.
Elizabeth had previously also taught at North Westminster Community School, and was a leader for teachers’ union, the NASUWT.
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Katie celebrated the life of her mother, who she said was “incredibly proud” of her.
She said: “If you were in mum’s class, you would always get a birthday cake, and have everyone sing you ‘happy birthday’.
“Mum was incredibly proud of me. She used to celebrate really quite normal things I had done; I think she’d applaud me crossing the road!
“We were very close; we spent a lot of time together, and we’d speak every single night. We could just look at each other and set each other off giggling; we were just on the same wavelength.
“She was just always thinking of others, and doing lovely things for them.
“Mum sent a barbershop quartet to my house in Leeds for my 21st birthday to sing me ‘happy birthday’ and ‘K-K-K-Katy’. Not only that, she had BBC Look North turn up and report on it!
“She also used to wake me up on my birthday every year, regardless of where in the world I was, and sing me ‘happy birthday’.
“In my 20s, this was wholly unappreciated… (but) it is the loveliest of memories now, and this birthday just gone, the absence of it was sadly notable.”
A celebration of Elizabeth’s life, followed by interment of ashes, will take place at St Asaph Cathedral on Thursday, February 8 at 1pm.
Donations offered will be given to Shelter and Great Ormond Street Hospital, two charities which Katie said her mother raised thousands of pounds for.
Claire Armitstead, headteacher at Rhyl High School, also paid tribute to her former colleague.
She said: “Liz was a huge part of Rhyl High School, where she really enabled our children to be the best they can be.
“Liz never gave up, and she never stopped trying, but most of all, she cared. Liz was one of the kindest people I have ever met and had a genuinely good heart.”
Sue Williams, head of Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan, also added her condolences.
She said: “Staff at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan who knew Liz were very saddened to hear of her sudden passing.
“Liz was an animated and caring teacher who worked in the school’s English department before she moved on to continue the next steps in her teaching career.
“Our thoughts and condolences go to her daughter, Katie, and her family and friends.”
Some of Elizabeth’s colleagues and family friends also remembered “the most amazing gift giver”.
Jane MacDonald met her when they both taught at North Westminster Community School together.
She said: “Liz worked in an innovative English department when the Bellman Prize and other stimuli were introduced.
“When the Saturday music school was set up, Liz brought along Katie for flute lessons. As coordinator, I met them and all the others every week, and thereby began a lifelong friendship.”
Tim Jones, Elizabeth’s eldest nephew and godson, added: “She was, for me, everything a sibling of a parent should be.
“Loving, of course, kind and generous, naturally, but also empowering and enabling, encouraging thoughts, ideas and behaviours that as a parent you might avoid, but as an aunt or uncle, you can totally endorse.
“Aunty Liz was capable of being a bad influence... and I loved her for it! Our regular lunch meetings would be testament to this, as we put the world to rights with lively debate and much laughter.
“I learnt much of the years, from how to make garlic bread, to much of my understanding of unions and their influence. Lots of people talk of action, but Liz was a doer!
“Of all the things that my aunty Liz was, she was the most amazing gift giver.
“Do I remember every gift I've ever been given in my life? No. Do I remember the Dancing Daisy, Big Mouth Billy Bass, singing dancing Santa, or singing dancing Christmas tree? Absolutely.
“Or the box of finest Welsh cheeses or adorable cushions. All considered, all sent with love and humour and thought. All unique to me and my family - much like my aunty Liz.”
Suzanne Nantcurvis, who knew Elizabeth through the NASUWT, said she remembered her as a woman of “great principles and strong values”.
She added: “As a teacher, I know that she cared about her pupils and was kind and compassionate. From a union viewpoint, she was a fantastic advocate for her colleagues.
“She was also good company and great fun to be with. I valued all the work she did in the NASUWT and know that she inspired others because of her commitment and her fearlessness of standing up for what she felt was right.
“It is teachers like Liz who see the big picture and make schools a better place for their colleagues.”
Emma Williams, who worked with Elizabeth at Rhyl High School, said she thought of her as “like having a work mum”.
She said: “Liz really took me under her wing when I first started teaching at Rhyl High and gave me so much advice.
“What a fantastic teacher, too - she really managed to get through to some of our most vulnerable pupils.”
Catrin Owen, who knew Elizabeth through being a union representative, added: “Liz was an inspiration to me when I decided to become a union rep and attend conferences.
“I loved her sense of humour.”
Sarah Lindsay, a friend of Katie’s, said: “Whenever I spoke to her, it was so clear that she adored Katie and was incredibly proud of her.”
Nicola Jones, a former pupil of Elizabeth’s at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan, added: “Liz was a beautiful person, and she was very kind to me during some difficult times in high school.
“I’m sure there are many, many people with similar feelings towards her.”
Türmle Maier, a family friend, said: “Even though Liz and I hadn’t seen each other in years, she still managed to leave a big impression on me. She was a great woman.”
Kate Smith, another family friend, added: “Liz Brown was an amazing lady, one who I will never forget.
“What a treat to have spent so much time with her. She was always so sage. And I’ll always cherish her heartfelt advice to me in my biggest time of need.”
Kerstin Kesting, meanwhile, described Elizabeth as “such a lovely, funny, sweet and caring woman, with firm views and a big warm heart”.
She added: “I loved her very much and am still grateful for her taking me under her wing in my moment of need.”
Andrew Braun, in a poem, described Elizabeth as “Liz the legend”, meanwhile.
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