It is with great sadness that I share with you the news I learned today that Mrs Norma Quince, Church High School Secretary from 1994-2004, has very recently passed away.  I know a great many of you, whether as a colleague or pupil, will remember Norma’s warm personality, kindness and good humour.  She will be much missed.

Norma took on the role of Church High’s School Secretary in 1994 on the retirement of Mrs Elizabeth Bell.  The School Secretary’s onerous duties not only involved running the School Office, but also acting as the Headmistress’ PA and supporting the Governing Body.  Norma carried out these duties with great diligence, skill and discretion supporting two Headmistresses in her 10 years’ service.  Her time supporting Miss Davies was short (a year and one term), as Miss Davies retired in December 1995, but she enjoyed a long working relationship with Mrs Lesley Smith, who took up the Headship in January 1996.  As many of you may remember, Norma also acted as Secretary to the Church High Old Girls’/Alumnae Association until Sarah Timney took on the role of Alumnae Co-ordinator in 2000.

Norma’s time working at Church High coincided with a period of great change, growth and expansion for the School.  The picture at the head of this post shows her (centre) in the Hall with Governors at the Opening Reception for the Barbour Wing in 1999.  Norma would also have been involved administratively in the work leading up to the unveiling of the Sport’s Hall in 2002 and the LRC in 2003.

In recent years, Norma’s health had been failing a little, but that did not stop her attending the Church High Reception to celebrate the re-opening of Tankerville in September 2016 (pictured below).  It was lovely to have her there with us at that special ‘family’ reunion .

If you would like to attend, a funeral service to celebrate Norma’s life will take place on Thursday 21st December at 10.15 am at the West Road Crematorium, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  In the Evening Chronicle notice, a family request for flowers only has been made. Friends are also requested to meet at the crematorium where the retiring collection will be in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

Norma will be greatly missed by all who knew her at Church High.