Teacher always had the right answers

AVRIL FOY, former principal teacher at St Martin's RC Primary School, Tranent, and Eucharist minister, has died aged 63.

Mrs Foy – as she was known to generations of East Lothian schoolchildren – began work at St Martin's in 1987 as a class teacher.

She had taught in a number of different schools around the area, but it was the primary in Tranent where she settled and stayed for 20 years.

She progressed to principal teacher, before ill health forced her to stop working in the run-up to Christmas.

Evelyn Sloan, who worked with her for many years as headteacher of St Martin's, said: "She was very family orientated. At school she was a selfless worker, always seeking answers to kids' problems.

"Her time here was spent unlocking the problems of others, that was her reward. She gave everything to what she did, and was totally involved in the community.

"Avril was always a great support and had a great sense of humour. We would laugh at our problems and then find a new way through them. Care was the mainstay of her work, care and love. She was greatly appreciated by those she worked with."

Born in Musselburgh, on January 23, 1945, Avril lived her whole life in the East Lothian area.

She was educated at Musselburgh Grammar School and left at 15 to enter the world of work, finding employment with a number of companies, including British Rail, before marrying Michael Foy in February 1967.

The couple moved to Tranent and she began night school at Ross High School, where she accumulated a number of Highers before taking a teacher training course at Napier.

Outside of her life as a teacher, Avril worked as a Eucharist minister for 15 years with St Martin's Church in Tranent.

Having converted to husband Mike's Catholic faith, she would make weekly visits to sick people in the community to give communion.

Mr Foy said: "She never had a bad word to say about anybody. I remember at her graduation ball I was playing in a band and she came with all the gear in the back of the van. We unloaded round the back before she and I went in through the front to get our pictures taken. She never complained once."

Current headteacher of St Martin's, Rosanne Ainsley, said: "We remember her with deepest fondness, respect and admiration.

"She was very supportive of the Parents and Teachers Association.

"She was always involved in all sorts of fundraising initiatives, such as bingo night, disco events for the kids and family fun days.

"My memory of her is one of someone who was always very supportive."

She is survived by her husband Mike, daughters Jacqueline and Pamela, and grandchildren Liam, Stefan, Jamie and Ellie.