Thoughts about Pam,

I often think about Pam but recently she has been in my thoughts more than ever. I knew Pam throughout her teaching career and beyond. I was teaching at Catford County School when Pam started as a new member of staff. Like many of us from that era she taught there throughout its many name changes until she retired. During that time she became a very good friend to many if not most of the other members of staff including, I am proud to say, myself. Pam was a wonderful teacher who cared deeply about the children and young people that she taught and always made sure that she gave them her best and got the best for them and out of them. But it is not just as a teacher that Pam shone.

I saw something recently where an artist asked people to sum themselves up in three words. I tried to do that with Pam. Not surprisingly it was impossible. Kind, caring and considerate came instantly to mind but that is not enough to say about Pam.
She had a wonderful ability to know what you would be interested in or like or enjoy. That came about because she was very good at really listening to you. For example, it was Pam who suggested to me many, many years ago that I should watch the Australian film ‘Strictly Ballroom’ as she was sure I would like it. She was quite right. She knew because I had spoken about watching ‘Come Dancing’ on the TV, not a fashionable thing to do back then, but she noted it, remembered it and came up with an idea for me. More recently during lockdown, when we were not meeting, a book arrived in my post. It was from Pam. It came with a note which said I think you’ll like this. It was ‘Where The Crawdads sing’ and I did. How did she know? Because she knew I was a very keen wildlife, especially bird fan. The same reason that the postcard I found from her while tidying the other day included ‘Have seen some birds of prey’. After retiring a little group of us formed a book club and thanks in large part to Pam we were rarely without suggestions for reading matter, thanks I think also have to go to Margaret here. These examples are part of my experiences of Pam but I am certain that each one of you will have had similar experiences of her ability to make you feel special, cared for, known well and understood. That was, in my view, one of her finest qualities.

I miss Pam very much and will always think of her as a treasured and very dear friend.

with much love from Eilidh