LANCASHIRE'S Chief Constable Pauline Clare has paid tribute to her former headteacher who died last week.

Mary Reddy, who made Chief Constable Clare head girl at St Mary's RC School, now St Mary's RC Technical College, died aged 89 on Friday.

Miss Reddy was the first female headteacher in the area at a time when the profession was dominated by men, and gave advice to Chief Constable Clare when she was considering a career in the police force, another male-dominated profession.

Born in Preston, Miss Reddy went to St Augustine's and Lark Hill schools before studying at Manchester University.

She began her teaching career at the former Leyland St Mary's RC School, School Lane, in 1939, and taught there until 1957 when she was appointed headteacher at the newly-formed senior school on Royal Avenue, where she stayed until she retired in 1976.

Chf Con Clare said Miss Reddy had been helpful to her as a teenager.

"I remember her very fondly," she said. "She was very encouraging. In those days there were very few girl police cadets because they had quotas

"It's very, very sad, but I am sure there will be a lot of people who will remember her with fondness and admiration as I do.

"I am sure she did a lot for the young people of Leyland." Frank Harrison, who succeeded Miss Reddy as headteacher, said Miss Reddy had encountered similar problems in her own career.

"She was a very efficient woman and teacher. She had prove herself in a profession that was not conducive to women headteachers at that time," he said.

"She was a very kind and considerate person and she thought a great deal about the children and worked very hard to do what she could."

Another colleague, Stephen Bates, who is now deputy head at St Mary's RC Technology College, said: "She was very nice. She had a fantastic memory for pupils."

The school's former secretary, Clare Boys, said: "She was a wonderful person and was a good start to the school we have now. She was a very strong person and had a very good mind. I thought the world of her."

Father Jonathan Cotton, priest at St Mary's Catholic Church, Leyland, said: "She has been a wonderful part of our community and faith in Leyland and worked among us for 60 years. That's a wonderful contribution and we are very grateful for everything she's given us."

Miss Reddy's funeral is set to take place today (December 6) at 10am at St Theresa's Catholic Church in Penwortham.