Brenda Shelmerdine (Junior School staff, 1984-1997)

Brenda was appointed as a Lower School teacher at Cheltenham College Junior School in 1984, before soon becoming Head of Athens House and later Assistant Head of the Junior. 

The following is an abridged version of the eulogy given at Brenda’s funeral, written by her family. 

On Thursday 17 June 1937 two baby girls were born – one at Orterley Farm in the North Yorkshire Moors and the other in Huntington, York. Members of the same family, both were named Brenda. The first was a fine shire horse and the second was Brenda Elizabeth Hopwood, later Shelmerdine – history does not relate who was named after who!   

Brenda was the daughter of Yorkshire farmer Charles and his wife Marjorie, younger sister to Peter and older sister to Trevor. Keen on dancing from a young age, she attended lessons at the Three Graces dance school, causing one of her brothers to remark that she was the little known fourth Grace – the dis-grace!  

During the War, Brenda’s mother was seriously ill with tuberculosis and Brenda went to live with her aunt and uncle, Vera and Harold, and her cousins Derek, Brian and Keith with whom she formed a lifelong close bond. The family farm was always at the heart of life growing up – everyone pitched in but Brenda’s tractor driving wasn’t perhaps her best skill! She was involved in the Church in Huntington from an early age, spent many happy years in the Girl Guides (eventually becoming a Queen’s Guide) and at school discovered she had a passion for hockey. 

Perhaps the most life-changing experience came in 1955 when Brenda went off to Lady Mabel College of Physical Education where she spent three wonderful years training to be a teacher at Wentworth Woodhouse and where, known as Hoppy, she formed lifelong friendships.  

Brenda’s first teaching post was at Tadcaster Grammar School where, in the PE department, she met a handsome young chap called Bob Shelmerdine. Bob and Brenda were soon ‘walking out’ – even though Bob was from the other side of the Pennines! They married in August 1960 and, after a honeymoon on the French Riviera, Brenda and Bob moved to Nottingham. Brenda was appointed Head of Games at Carleton-le-Willows Grammar School. She continued her love of hockey, playing for the county, and embarked on new sporting activities, ice skating and skiing – bravely leading school ski trips to Austria and Norway.  

After four happy years in Nottingham, Bob was appointed to a lectureship at St Paul’s College in Cheltenham. So, in August 1964, Brenda and Bob moved to Gotherington. They threw themselves into village life, creating friendships which have endured to this day. Over the years Brenda became a stalwart of the WI, the amateur dramatic society, Gotherington Ladies Choir, the wine club, village horticultural shows, and the local parish church. In December 1966 Fiona was born, followed in 1969 by Juliet. Brenda was always very proud of their achievements and loved and supported them unconditionally, always putting her family before herself. 

Brenda taught in a number of schools before joining The Richard Pate School in Cheltenham in 1978. Alongside her class teaching, she coached hockey, gymnastics and cycling proficiency and particularly enjoyed taking pupils on trips to the Three Counties Show.  

Then, in 1984, Brenda moved to Cheltenham College Junior School. She immersed herself in boarding school life and soon became Head of Athens House. Proud to be the first woman to become a Head of House, she was known to pupils and parents alike as ‘Athene.’ Brenda later became Assistant Head of the Junior and head of both Lower School and Middle School. 

In her thirteen years at Cheltenham College Junior School, Brenda had a huge impact on pupils and colleagues alike. She had great skill and vision as a teacher and school leader; her warmth and keen sense of humour were loved by the pupils in her care and their parents; and her contributions to the wider life of the Junior were exemplary – from masterminding various House commitments to instilling cycling proficiency and maypole dancing.  

Brenda retired in 1997. Among her new enthusiasms were golf, examining for the English Speaking Board, and hand bell ringing. She and Bob joined the congregation in Tewkesbury Abbey. During retirement, Brenda was also able to indulge her love of travel and discovery. She had many adventures across the globe with Bob and also with Juliet – travelling as far afield as Peru, Kenya, India and China. One of her most memorable trips was the Abbey Pilgrimage to the Holy Land.   

In recent years Brenda continued her involvement in village life, particularly supporting Gotherington Old Chapel and its new role in the community. Despite developing Parkinson’s disease, she refused to let this restrict her life and carried on much as normal until very recently. It was while she was in respite care that sadly her health suddenly declined and she passed away peacefully on the 15th of January. 

The many touching messages received have consistently described Brenda as: practical, pragmatic and no-nonsense; exacting with high standards, inspiring awe and love in equal measure; fiercely loyal and faithful; generous, kind and considerate; deeply caring and loving, with a keen sense of humour and a cheeky smile.   

Brenda’s humility and unwavering Christian faith sat at the heart of who she was and everything she did, whether as a teacher, friend, sister, cousin, aunt, wife, mother or grandmother.