Valerie Maria Beal
The death of former languages teacher Mrs Beal was announced in the Peterborough Telegraph today, 28th September 2023.
BEAL, Valerie Maria
Former Language Teacher and Deputy Head of the previous “Girls Grammar School”, Cobden Avenue, Peterborough, followed by a Deputy Headship at “The Deacons School, now The Thomas Deacon Academy”, Peterborough.
Passed away at Ravendale Hall Care Home, Lincolnshire on 19th September 2023, aged 87 years…
A Service of Thanksgiving for her life will take place at Peterborough Crematorium on Friday 13th October at 12.30pm.
Family flowers only please, donations in memory made payable to The Alzheimer’s Society may be left at the crematorium or sent to J Marshall Funeral Directors, 51 Queen Street, Market Rasen, LN8 3EN.
Mrs Beal (née Sewell) was a former pupil of the school, becoming head girl in 1953-4 (photo from the 1954 Chronicle).
She studied French at Royal Holloway College, London, graduating with a B.A. (Hons.) around 1957-8. She joined the County School’s French department part-time in 1965 and became a full-time teacher of French and German in 1967.
As stated above, she later became deputy head and subsequently was deputy head at Deacon’s School.
My thanks to Sylvia Cundell for alerting me to the sad news.
Some comments from the school Facebook page:
So sorry to hear this. I remember her as Valerie Sewell when she was Head Girl. She was so kind to all of us younger than her. Condolences to her family.
She was kind and professional, treating us well, which generated respect.
She was a lovely lady.
I thought she was a fab teacher
Peterborough County School for Girls 
Mrs Beale was so elegant, handsome, just beautiful. A great teacher, of course, but what I really remember is that she did not put mascara her lower eye lashes. It fascinated me. I was young enough not really to have thought that women make choices, they decide how they look. this probably sounds trivial, but it made a difference to me. I was a total fan of Mrs Beale. I’m grateful for the fact she was my teacher and sorry to hear of her passing. RIP.