FORMER Homefield School teacher, Mary Brooks, has died at the age of 85.

Bournemouth-born Mary Rosa Frances Brooks was the eighth daughter of Thomas and Marguerite Browning, two more sons and two more daughters followed.

"She was educated at the Convent of the Cross in Parkwood Road, Boscombe, where she was a good student and popular with her fellow pupils, teachers and the nuns who taught her. She won the Elocution Cup in her final year and was the Head Girl," said her sister Christine Thackray.

Mary met her husband Eustace or Frank as he later became known, at teacher training college. Mary went to Digby Stuart, Roehampton University, London and Frank to St Mary's University College on Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, and were close enough to see each other whenever studies didn't intrude.

"They married in 1953 while wartime rationing was still in force so her wedding dress had to be bought using coupons which were contributed by friends and family. The reception was held at the family home in Beechwood Avenue and the catering was done by her sisters and mother. Our father remarked that he would give the next daughter wishing to marry, £5 and a stepladder to elope," said Christine.

Mary taught at a small school in Westby Road and then her first son Peter was born the next year, followed by Vincent and then Gregory.

Then when Rhodesia, as Zimbabwe was then called, appealed for teachers to come to the country Mary and Frank took their three small sons out to Africa.

"It was quite an adventure but life was not at all easy for them for the first few years. However, they soldiered on and their fourth son Laurence was born out there. They settled down to make a wonderful life for their boys," said Christine.

In the 1970s when the UDI and all the roubles broke out in Rhodesia they decided to return to England. After a short time in Surrey the family came back to Bournemouth where they both taught at Homefield School until retirement.

"Mary was chairman of the Convent of the Cross Past Pupils Association and was in touch with past pupils from all over the world. She worked tirelessly for the association and will be greatly missed. She also went to a Hydro Active class every week at the Littledown and made lots of friends there.

"Mary was a much loved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister," said Christine.

She passed away on September 15 and her funeral at Corpus Christi church was full with family and friends, including past pupils of both the Convent of the Cross and St Peter's School, the two school having closely linked over the years. Some relatives attending the funeral came from as far away as Ireland, New Zealand, Tasmania and Australia.