Advertisement

Teacher, poet and artist Thelma Kell dies aged 88

Thelma Kell
Thelma Kell

An Isle of Wight woman who loved teaching, art and poetry has died aged 88.

Thelma Kell (nee Loe) died suddenly at home on July 10.

She touched the lives of hundreds of young children and their families through her years of teaching, many at the reception class at Grove Road Primary School, Sandown.

Thelma grew up in the Portsmouth/Cosham/Havant area, moving around many times until settling in Southsea during her later childhood.

Initially, she went to secretarial college and became a proficient typist, but realising that her true vocation was teaching she qualified as a teacher at Portsmouth Teacher Training College in the late 1950s.

Thelma moved to the Isle of Wight with her then husband in 1966.

She ran her own childcare educational nursery from home in Shanklin while her daughter and only child, Janet, was very young, returning to full time primary school teaching in the 1970s.

Thelma was a talented poet and artist, but also loved spending her time with her family whom she adored, spring flowers, animals, the sea and countryside, meals out, ‘naughties’ (chocolate, cream and cake!).

Thelma remarried later in life, and had many happy years with husband Harry, until his death in 2017.

Thelma is survived by her daughter, Janet (Jan), son-in-law Chris, granddaughters Sophie and Katie and younger brother Ted.

A private family funeral has been held.

Any donations for a defibrillator to be installed in her memory in Shanklin should be sent to Paul Walsh Funeral Directors.