A LONG-serving Selby teacher who taught thousands of pupils has died aged 87.

Margaret Lees Beavis, nee Hutchinson, taught at Selby County Junior School for 31 years before spending six years as its head teacher.

Mrs Beavis, of Courtneys, in Selby, was born on August 19, 1922 and was educated at Selby High School and Bingley Teacher Training College.

Her career began at Moorends Secondary School in Thorne, near Doncaster, but she then moved to Selby County – which is now called Selby Community Primary School – at a time when the school had children up to the age of 15, the school leaving age at the time. Initially, Mrs Beavis taught physical education and general subjects to senior pupils, before later focussing on junior pupils.

She was appointed deputy head teacher in 1969 and then head teacher in 1977 before retiring in 1983.

Another former head teacher, Ken Taylor, paid tribute to her. He said: “She will be remembered by very many pupils.

“She was a very conscientious and well-liked teacher and was there for many years, so there are probably thousands of people who were youngsters at the school who will be mourning her.”

Mrs Beavis married her husband, Ken, in 1990 at Selby Methodist Church following the death of his first wife.

Mr Beavis said his wife had been a keen tennis player and loved travelling.

Together the couple travelled to China, Antarctica, Australia, Japan and had flown on Concorde.

Her funeral takes place today at 2pm at Selby Methodist Church.