Mrs. Tibbits
Recently after I wrote an article for the Local History Society, I was very much pleased and surprised to receive an e-mail from the husband of one of the most influential teachers in my life, Mrs. Tibbits. Whenever I think back to my days at school the first person I think of is Mrs. Tibbits at Saxon School. Who can forget the hundreds of lines she gave the class that kept growing to a number that would have been impossible to complete, luckily she let us off after a while and said you can never beat the Teacher! I will never forget the phrase “Silence is Golden” or the time on April 1st she told us all to change for an extra PE lesson, which we did, only to be told when we got to the hall she had played an April Fool’s joke on us.
Who can also not forget the little songs Mrs Tibbits and Mrs Barringer taught us that we had to sing at the end of assembly? Remember them being written on separate card and stuck to the back of the classroom door!
He wrote back with the following information about Mrs. Tibbits:
He wrote back with the following information about Mrs. Tibbits:
Even after all these years I still see Mrs. Tibbits as Mrs. Tibbits and not Shirley, for me it seems disrespectful to call her by her Christian name.
Thank you for everything Mrs. Tibbits.
Most of the people who write to me about this site always speak with affection towards Mrs Tibbits. One person, who I will not name, but was in Mrs. Tibbits class with me told me recently that she always wanted a pair of shinny white boots like the ones Mrs. Tibbits wore, so her Mum helped her modify her short boots to look like hers. Donna was proud of these boots (sorry, did I just mention her name, sorry Donna).
Mr. Tibbits told me that unfortunately Mrs. Tibbits had died. He also kindly gave me some more information regarding the School name, which I will reveal when I finish my article on that subject. I replied thanking him and informing him of how people will always remember her.
“I am so pleased that you remember my wife Shirley with such affection; she really was a born teacher and I know that she always managed to combine a happy class atmosphere with good discipline.
You may recall that the PTA, under her direction, produced some eight or so revues in successive years with titles like "In at the deep end" "Sink or swim" and "Raise the roof" which together with the annual Summer fete and regular bingo evenings helped, to raise funds for the construction of the swimming pool.
She left Saxon school eventually, shortly after Mr Remnant retired, and joined the staff of Echelford school in Ashford, where she continued to enjoy her career including producing numerous very successful large scale
musical shows.
In her spare time over many years Shirley had been involved as musical director in the production of numerous revues and concerts with various groups, raising funds for local charities, which was recognised by the her receiving a
Spelthorne Civic Award in 2004.
She had always enjoyed playing badminton over the years and in retirement took up golf which she really enjoyed, eventually becoming Lady's captain at Sunbury golf club.
She died in December 2009 and her life was celebrated by a packed congregation at a memorial service in St. Nicholas church in January 2010.
I'm pleased to be able to say that my lasting memory of Shirley is of her Sunny personality and the sound of her laughter.”
Thank you, Mr. Tibbits, for your permission to share your e-mail and for the infomation and lovely memories about Mrs. Tibbits and the school.