Well known Stogumber resident Glenys Heaton sadly passed away in December at the age of 83. 

Glenys lived in West Somerset with her husband Brian for 53 years. As well as being a well-known and well-liked teacher, she was involved in several local organisations.

Glenys was the treasurer for the Stogumber and Bicknoller Women’s Institutes, ran the Stogumber open gardens, was a member of the history society and volunteered at Dunster castle. 

In keeping with Glenys’ wishes, the funeral was a quiet one. Her immediate family attended the crematorium where a service was held.

On January 21 a celebration of Glenys’ life was hosted at the Bicknoller Inn. Over 120 mourners attended to remember Glenys’ joyous and fulfilled life.  

That life began in Kent. Glenys had said from a young age she wanted to be a teacher, and qualified as one in 1961, starting at a school in Bethnal Green. To avoid London’s harsh living costs, Glenys and her husband Brian moved into a 72-foot traditional Worcestershire wooden barrow boat, which they moored off the Thames on the River Wey. 

In 1965 the couple’s first son Richard was born. A year later the boat was sold and Glenys and Brian moved to a forest cottage in Sussex.  In 1969 Glenys and Brian were invited to run Halsway Manor.

They moved to Somerset and purchased two derelict cottages in nearby Kingswood. But running a hotel did not work out for the couple who by this time had two young children under 5.

Glenys went on to become the deputy head teacher at Danesfield school, and Brian founded Taunton’s Albermarle centre. Whilst teaching at Danesfield school Glenys ran foreign trips for the children, on one occasion taking them to Venice. This was a terrific experience for the children, some of whom had never left Taunton.

Glenys enjoyed holidays at home and abroad. On one occasion the family trekked up Mount Etna, wearing asbestos over-boots as lava spilled out above. Glenys’ daughter Liz, then 10 years of age, ran down the hill to safety. 

Glenys’ favourite tipple was sherry. Her husband Brian invites you to drink a toast in her memory.