Gwyneth Youd, who taught at infant schools in Oxford and Abingdon, died at home on her 74th birthday.

Mrs Youd, of Barlow Close, Wheatley, whose maiden name was Jones, was born in Pontlottyn, Glamorgan, in 1934 and attended Hengoed Grammar School.

She went on to Swansea Teacher Training College, where she qualified in 1954.

Her first teaching appointment was at Staple Hill, a suburb of Bristol, where she remained for six years.

During this time, she met her husband David, a police officer.

The couple married in 1960 and moved to Cheltenham and then Tewkesbury where she taught at Rowenfield School until the birth of her son, Huw ok.

In 1964, the couple moved to Oxford where, after the birth of her daughter Zoë, Mrs Youd started work at Wood Farm Infants' School.

After Wood Farm, she spent eight years at Barton Infants' School until 1977, when she became deputy head of Carswell Infants' School at Abingdon.

She later became the headteacher of the school, a position she held for two years, before retiring in 1991.

Mrs Youd's career was not confined to working in schools. She also worked at Oxford Prison, teaching prisoners for a year.

According to her daughter, Zoë La Roche, Mrs Youd said this was one of the happiest working years of her life.

After the closure of the prison, she became a supply teacher and tutored pupils at home.

The last lesson she taught was in 2004 at the age of 70.

Outside teaching, her daughter said she was a warm, light-hearted person who loved antiques, music, the arts and gardening.

Her daughter said: "Mum was a dedicated teacher who had great humanity and believed in giving everyone a chance."

Mrs Youd's funeral service will be held at St Mary's Church, in Wheatley, tomorrow at 2.30pm.

Donations are requested for Save the Children, a charity that she supported.