CHRISTINE Smith was well known in Alton as a dedicated teacher and head of modern languages at Eggars School from 1976 to 2000.

Many pupils will remember her from her exchange trips abroad to Cherbourg and Villedieu in France as well as Rottenburg in Germany. 

She was convinced that a knowledge of other countries and their culture gave you a much wider perspective on the world.

Chris also taught part-time prior to this at Amery Hill School, also in Alton.

Born in 1948 in Chiswick, she was  raised in Port Talbot in Wales and went to the local comprehensive school and thereafter to Swansea University where she met and married her husband, John. 

She was fiercely proud of her Welsh upbringing and her house being right on the coast, was very fond of the sea.

Chris came to Alton in 1974 and soon settled into the community. She did however concentrate most of her time on teaching and looking after her family with equal care and attention to detail, and anyone who met her could not fail to be impressed by her lively personality.

On retirement she was involved with organising the Alton Lunch Club, and was a member of the Alton Health and Fun Club.

Being a keen swimmer she also attended aquafit classes and was well known for her supporting role as Alton town mayoress in 2002 and East Hampshire chairman’s  consort in 2009.

She had strong family ties and although upset at being separated at Christmas from daughters, Sian and Rhiannon, she took some comfort in the family zoom meeting on  Christmas Day. 

She passed away on December 28 at her home in Alton after a six year battle against cancer.

There will be a commemorative service when Covid circumstances permit. 

Donations in her memory to either St Michael’s Hospice or Target Ovarian Cancer may be made online via Memory Giving or sent  c/o Kemp and Stevens, 93 High Street, Alton, GU34 1LG.