A retired primary school headteacher in Watford who loved the theatre and cricket has died, aged 78.

Shirley Barlow will be fondly remembered by former staff, pupils and parents of the schools where she worked in Hertfordshire.

She ended her career as headteacher of Meriden Primary School in Watford, having successfully overseen the amalgamation with Meriden Infants School when she was previously head of Meriden Junior School.

Born in Yorkshire in April 1942, Shirley was educated at South Deal Primary and Dover Grammar School in Kent before moving to Wolverhampton High School.

She never forgot her roots and enjoyed celebrating Yorkshire Day in August with friends and neighbours when she laid on plenty of food and drink.

Shirley, who lived on the Cassiobury estate, also loved the theatre and for many years organised trips for friends to the dinner theatre at the Mill at Sonning and dressing up for music halls.

Another of her passions was cricket. This developed from supporting her father as a teenager by scoring at his matches and led to her bonding with the love of her life, Malcolm.

Shirley and Malcolm married very young and had one son, Duncan, who runs his own arts centre.

They moved to Guildford, then after several moves settled in the Watford area.

Shirley tried many jobs but eventually decided to study to become a teacher. She taught at Colnbrook School, South Oxhey, and led the adult literacy campaign in the Watford area, running courses for tutors and volunteers in the evenings.

She became deputy head of Lime Walk School in Hemel Hempstead before moving to Meriden.

After retiring early through ill health Shirley and Malcolm enjoyed travelling throughout the world to see family and friends.

She volunteered for the Watford Talking Newspaper for many years by reading the news pages, also carried out voluntary work for the Peace Hospice and served as a magistrate.

In later years Shirley devotedly cared for Malcolm with a team of carers after his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s until his death in March 2018.

An inspirational teacher and a generous friend to many, Shirley Barlow died on December 12. She is survived by her son Duncan and brother Roger Proctor.