Popular Pendle school worker, 52 loses cancer fight (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Popular Pendle school worker, 52 loses cancer fight

12:00pm Friday 26th October 2012 in News

A POPULAR school worker from Fence has died following a battle with cancer.

Anne Standring, 52, died at Pendleside Hospice having twice battled the disease in the past four years.

Her parents, Alf and Joan, described her as ‘brave and determined’ during her fight.

Joan Duxbury said: “She was feisty, very brave, practical and loved a bargain. She and her friend used to love going to car boot sales and charity shops rooting for a bargain.

“She had worked in retail before going into schools but she absolutely loved working at Marsden. She loved going in every day and seeing her friends there and the students.

“She also loved the countryside, going out for walks in the Pendle area and she used to go out on her pony when she was younger.”

Anne attended St Anne’s Primary School and Edge End High, Nelson. After working in retail she helped out at lunch times at Higham Primary, then taught young children to read at Lomeshaye Primary.

For the past 13 years she had worked in administration at Marsden Primary.

Headteacher Gemma Whaling said: “Everyone at school – staff, parents and pupils – has been deeply saddened by the death of Mrs Standring.

“It was especially difficult to tell the older children as they had known her for so long. We have even had students who are now at high school calling in to pay their respects and add to the collection.

“Mrs Standring had worked at Marsden School for over 13 years as a member of the administration team, working with hundreds of families in her time with us.

“We have been overwhelmed by the phone calls, donations and messages of support from the community and other agencies that school works with.”

Anne’s husband, Danny, died nine years ago but she leaves behind three children – Stuart, 26, Luke, 23, and Shaun, 20.