Mrs Mary Ireland

Early in the term we received the sad news of the death of Mrs Mary Ireland, former Head of Bancroft’s.

Mrs Ireland retired in 2016 after serving as Head for eight years and she had been making the most of her retirement in Eastbourne with husband Simon, also previously a teacher. She was enjoying being a grandmother and had acquired another member of the family in the form of a new Labrador, having lost her previous dogs during her time at Bancroft’s. She had also been busy serving as a school governor and had recently been appointed as Junior Warden for the Drapers’ Company, which she saw as a great honour.

The news of her passing left many members of the school community shocked; Mary was still relatively young and we remember her as an energetic Head, fully involved in all aspects of school life. She could frequently be seen standing on the touchlines at sporting fixtures; despite her diminutive stature, she had a very big presence and could be heard cheering on the Bancroft’s players louder than anyone else. Although a figure of authority, who commanded respect from students and staff alike, Mary also had a great sense of fun and loved a reason for a celebration. She moved the school into the twenty-first century, yet also recognised the importance of tradition. One of her legacies was setting up the Bancroft’s Foundation to mark the school’s 275th anniversary and to raise funds for increasing the number of assisted places at the school.

Mary’s funeral in February was a family-only event, but we are looking forward to remembering her properly at a memorial event during the Summer Term.