Maureen Brown (21 Apr 1935 - 20 May 2020)

I first worked with Maureen at Danley Middle School in 1985. I was the newly appointed Deputy Head and she was the experienced Senior Mistress. Within eight weeks I became Acting Head. These circumstances could have been a recipe for disaster. They weren't because Maureen was a loyal and integral part of Danley. It meant a great deal to her. A year later I was appointed Head and she became the Deputy. She supported me and 'watched my back' helping me avoid mistakes of which i was more than capable. I owed her a great deal and following her retirement it was a pleasure to visit her and Tom, when they weren't enjoying their many exciting and adventurous holidays. Our most recent meeting was last July when I drove her to a Danley reunion ten years after the closure of the school. On entering the venue she was treated like visiting royalty. She was held in high regard by colleagues, pupils and friends who will all be disappointed that the current emergency will prevent us from attending in person the celebration of her life and showing support to her family.

Our heartfelt sympathy to Elspeth, Gillian and their families; we have lost a dear friend.

So sad to read this news. Maureen was a huge support to me when I taught with her at Danley. Initially quite foreboding I soon discovered she had a heart of gold and was fiercely loyal to the school and the wellbeing of its pupils. Sometimes people only saw the 'fiercely' side but to those who needed help or showed they shared her loyalty Maureen was kindness itself. For years she was my Chauffeur to school firstly from Teynham latterly from Sittingbourne when she and Eluzabeth Boulding would be my travelling companions. I well remember the ritual of changing into driving gloves and shoes prior to leaving school. I remember too her amazing assembly stories and am proud to say that,when I became a deputy headteacher and then headteacher myself, I modelled myself on Maureen...wanting the same level of pupil engagement in my assemblies. I even remember phoning her to check the details of 'who hung the monkey'..one of the stories she related with a particular vested pleasure. Condolences to Gillian and Elspeth of whom she was incredibly proud.