One of Macclesfield’s most illustrious . . .

One of Macclesfield’s most illustrious and formidable residents has left the town for pastures new.

Former Girls’ High School head, Beryl Footman, was born in Dagenham, Essex in July 1928.

She attended Becontree Primary School and was evacuated at the age of eleven at the beginning of World War II, to Saxmundham in Suffolk.

Beryl studied Mathematics at Nottingham University and in 1963 became head of Macclesfield High School for Girls. There Beryl, always known as Miss Footman, remained until 1979, before becoming head of the College of Further Education in Park Lane, She retired in 1989.

Feared by many of her students, I found her one of the most warm, friendly and humorous ladies I’ve ever known.

One of my journalist colleagues, at Community News, told me, as a student at the Girls’ High School, she had been so intimidated by Miss Footman, that even now, she would colour up and become a gibbering wreck when in her presence.

I met Beryl when I took over the editorship of Macclesfield Community News and we would meet up regularly, owing to her work with The Silk Heritage Trust, Macclesfield Civic Society and any number of other local organisations she lent her expertise to – and Comm News reported on. My respect and admiration for Beryl increased every time we met.

Beryl’s many interests brought involvement in much of the life of Macclesfield, including Activity in Retirement (AIR), the Arts Society, the Friends of Macclesfield Silk Heritage, Macclesfield Civic Society (of which she remains President), two Silk Heritage Trusts, U3A: French Conversation, European Studies, and a Bridge Club.

Her teaching philosophy had always been to urge her students to be “resilient, positive and able to find moments of humour in life.” Which certainly reflected her own outlook.

Beryl recently moved to Melbourn Springs Care Home, Melbourn near Royston, Herts to be near relatives. I’m told she has toured Cambridge on a tourist bus and occasionally participates in a game of bingo, which she never thought would happen!

I hope Beryl remembers me. I’ll never forget such a wonderful woman and offer my very best wishes for her future– bingo, buses and all!

Granville Sellars