SCORES of supporters turned out for a march to remember a teacher who was found dead while undergoing gender transition.

Teachers, pupils and National Union of Teachers members marched through the centre of Accrington to show their respect for St Mary Mag-dalen’s CE Primary School teacher Lucy Meadows and their solidarity against discrimination.

Miss Meadows, 32, died last month and an inquest into her death has been opened and adjourned.

Rally organiser Debs Gwynn, the North West National Union of Teachers lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender representative, said: “We were there firstly to offer support and solidarity to the community that showed support for Lucy and to her family and secondly to raise awareness of the devastating effect discrimination can have on individuals. I did not know Lucy personally, but I hope she would be pleased that so many people were here to support her.”

After leaving from the Devonshire Street school, the crowd made its way to Accrington Town Hall, where seven-year-old pupil Daisy Moreton, who knew Miss Meadows from the after school club, read a touching poem in her memory, describing her as a ‘delightful’, ‘kind’ and ‘wonderful teacher’.

And Zoe Parker, from Accrington, the mother of a child at the school, said although her son Oliver was not in Miss Meadows’ class, she would have had no problem with her teaching him.

Simon Jones, Blackburn with Darwen representative for the NUT, said he had just been on a young teachers’ course with Miss Meadows, who was previously known as Nathan Upton, a few days before she died.

He said: “She seemed great, she was really lovely. We were in groups for the team building and I was with her.

“She was fully involved and there were no signs of distress or isolation.”