RETIRED primary school teacher and governor Mrs Moyra Higginson has died suddenly, aged 69.

Mrs Higginson, of The Pastures, Beardwood, Blackburn, was well-liked at St Peter's Infant School, Mill Hill, where she taught for 25 years.

Headteacher Miss Mary Atkinson said: "She will always be remembered as a very special lady because everyone was special to her. She taught about 650 children and she knew and remembered them all.

"Whenever pupils come back to see us or to register their own children, they always ask after her. Her death is a real blow."

Mrs Higginson was born in the St Anne's parish, Blackburn, and attended the Roman Catholic church and West End Catholic Club.

She went to St Anne's Primary School and Notre Dame Grammar School then worked as a secretary until marrying Vincent Higginson. After having four daughters she trained as a teacher and worked at St Peter's Infant School until she was 62. Her daughter Imelda Higginson said: "She loved teaching and put off retiring until her grandchildren were born, then she left to look after them. She was devoted to them.

"She had a lot of nieces and nephews and made everyone feel special. Everyone felt that they were her favourite."

She also helped with the literacy hour at St Mary's Primary School, Osbaldeston, and was a governor of the Sacred Heart Primary School.

A faithful member of the Sacred Heart RC Church, she was also a Eucharistic minister who took communion to the sick, an ex-president of the Mothers' Union and helped disabled children on a pilgrimage to Lourdes last year.

Imelda Higginson said: "She was very active. She crammed more into 69 years than many people would get into 99 years."

She leaves her husband Vincent, four daughters, two granddaughters and three grandsons.

A Requiem Mass will be said for her at the Sacred Heart Church today and she will be buried at St Mary's Church, Osbaldeston.

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