Tritbutes have been paid to a woman who dedicated her entire life to one Witney school.

Isabelle Spencer, who died on September 8 at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, aged 87, came to the then Witney Grammar School in 1946 as a junior teacher.

And she stayed there until she retired in July 1981, watching over numerous changes and eventually becoming deputy headteacher.

During her time at the school, it changed from a grammar to a comprehensive, being renamed as Henry Box School in 1968.

Current deputy headteacher David Bell started at the school in 1984, but knew Miss Spencer as she continued a long association with the school after retirement.

He said: “A lot of people locally with age ranges from their 40s to 70s will remember and have been taught and inspired by her, particularly in art.”

A leading light in Witney’s amateur dramatic scene, she was a founder member of the Witney Dramatic Society in 1948, and wrote, produced, directed, created costumes and painted scenery for productions.

She also wrote and directed three charity shows for the Jill Stew School of Dance, and produced and directed many productions at the school.

Passionate about calligraphy, she was a founder member of the Oxford Scribes and a tutor of Windrush Scribes, until her death.

Her funeral is on Tuesday, September 20, at noon at Oxford Crematorium. No flowers of donations.