TRIBUTES have been paid to a former WGC teacher, who died on her 86th birthday. Audrey Simmons taught home economics at the former WGC High School – now Sir Frederic Osborn School – in Herns Lane, between 1960 and 1983. Mrs Simmons moved to Hertfordshire

TRIBUTES have been paid to a former WGC teacher, who died on her 86th birthday.

Audrey Simmons taught home economics at the former WGC High School - now Sir Frederic Osborn School - in Herns Lane, between 1960 and 1983.

Mrs Simmons moved to Hertfordshire from her native Yorkshire in 1957, along with husband John, who later became head at St John's School in Digswell.

The couple moved into Station Road, Digswell, and Mrs Simmons lived there for 47 years before relocating to Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, in 2004 to be closer to her family.

After her retirement, she became involved with the University of the Third Age (U3A), an organisation which provides educational and leisure opportunities for people no longer in full-time employment.

Speaking to the WHT, son Richard said: "She was a splendid parent and after my father died in 1964, made sure I was able to go to university despite what must have been constrained finances.

"I will miss her wit, her fluency with language and her company.

"She was always there, ready to help out wherever she could."

Rosemary Mitchell, of Fordwich Road, WGC, attended the local U3A creative writing group alongside Mrs Simmons, and said she would be "missed very much".

"She was a very positive, very helpful, creative lady," Rosemary said.

"She was a very good cook and she always came armed with very delicious cakes for our meetings."

Mrs Simmons was born in Staincross, near Barnsley, Yorkshire, on February 19, 1923.

She died at Horton General Hospital, in Banbury, Oxfordshire, on February 19.

A date for the funeral, at Banbury crematorium, has yet to be fixed.