Retired teacher who overcame adversity to inspire children to achieve their dreams for more than 40 years remembered

Gillian Thomas, who has died aged 79, was left with a deformity in her arm after a medical accident when she was a baby, but she did not let it stop her achieving what she wanted in life.

The Croxley Green resident became a teacher and even achieved her own dream of becoming a professional dancer, despite being told it was not possible.

Former pupil Charlotte Simpson, now a social worker in adult mental health, paid tribute to Ms Thomas saying she would not have succeeded in her education without her influence.

She said: “Without Gillian’s guidance, compassion and influence from a tender age, I would never have been able to succeed in my education and later, my career. I will be forever grateful to her. She was a credit to her community and my dearest friend, who will be sorely missed.”

Ms Thomas was born in London in 1936. After an accident that caused the deformity in her arm when she was 18 months old, she was told she would never be a professional dancer. As a child she was not allowed to perform in public.

But in later life Ms Thomas was very proud to dance at Watford nightclub Baileys and performed alongside dancers much younger than herself. Learning to drive was also a challenge she managed in the end.

Most of Ms Thomas’ teenage years were spent in hospital having operations to make her arm as usable as possible.

She passed the exams to become a teacher despite much disruption to her school life.

Ms Thomas became a teacher straight after finishing school in the 1950s, teaching first in London and then in Watford.

She worked in various schools in the town, mainly teaching reception class, and was an infant teacher at Chater School from 1982 to 1990. She was also a tutor to children with reading and writing disabilities such as dyslexia.

Ms Thomas was married for 20 years and had one daughter, Heather.

Recalling her mother, Heather said her mother put her heart and soul into teaching.

She said: “She was a very kind person and full of fun with so much love to give. She would spend her own money on books for the children and put her heart and soul into teaching them with particular interest in reading and writing, nature, art.

“She taught them, as she taught me, that you can do anything you put your mind to. If you really want to do something, you can.

“I will miss her love and her smile that could light up a room.”

Ms Thomas lived in Carpenders Park and later Lewes Way, in Croxley Green, where she lived for 45 years. She retired from teaching 10 years ago.

Ms Thomas enjoyed music, and went regularly to Amersham Jazz Club in the 1980s with friends. She loved painting with oils, breeding butterflies, her garden and wildlife.

Heather continued: “She had many years of poor health, sadly. But even when she was in the care home Watermill House for two months before she died, despite being unwell, she was loved by many of the people there.

“Gloria Hunniford came to open the home in August and commented on her youthful skin. Mum let her into the secret – lanolin cream.”

Ms Thomas’ funeral will be held on Friday, October 16, at West Herts Crematorium at 2.20pm. For details, contact Heather on 07941372898.