AN ENGLISH language teacher who founded a school in North Oxford has died aged 76.

HA Pitman – always known to friends and even family as HA Swan – created the Swan School of English in Banbury Road with her first husband Michael Swan.

Founded in 1965, it was one of the first schools of its kind in Oxford and quickly established a respected reputation.

Mrs Swan also created the University of Oxford’s English language exams and served as chief examiner.

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As well as writing a number of textbooks on the subject, she also spoke at conferences, chaired English language organisations and was a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Her real name was the subject of much secrecy, as she always introduced herself as ‘HA’ This was because she loathed the name – Hazel-Anne – given to her at birth, her family said. Friend and colleague Simon Greenall OBE said: “Only HA’s family and very close friends knew what the initials stood for, but everyone knew her as a thoughtful and creative contributor to the English language teaching profession, and well known for her hospitality and kindness. She was unstoppable and everything she did professionally was in line with today’s best practice in English language teaching.”

Hazel-Anne Plumer was born on August 7, 1938, in Oxford.

She grew up in Boars Hill, later moving with her family to Hill Top Road and Holywell Street, where they were neighbours of JRR Tolkien. She later remembered Mr Tolkien as a kindly old man who sometimes read her bedtime stories.

As a young woman she attended Roedean, an independent boarding school in Sussex, before returning to Oxford to study English at Lady Margaret Hall from 1957 to 1960.

There she met her first husband, Michael Swan and they married on September 13, 1960. The couple had their first child, Kate, in 1962, followed by Ruth in 1964 and Tom in 1968. The marriage ended in 1973. Together, Mr and Mrs Swan founded the Swan School of English in Banbury Road, and would host a monthly teachers club to enjoy talks by colleagues from other schools.

Mrs Swan closed the school in 2005 due to a difficult financial climate.

She married second husband Mark Pitman the same year in Doynton, near Bristol, and took his name, becoming HA Pitman.

She died on October 28, after a short period of illness. A funeral was held at Westerleigh Crematorium, Bristol, on November 5. She is survived by her husband, three children and one grandchild, Isabel.

A memorial service will be held tomorrow at Holy Trinity Church, Doynton, near Bristol, at 3pm.

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