A piano teacher looked back on her career as part of the celebrations for World Teachers’ Day on October 5.

Jean Piper - a resident at The Lawn care home in Alton, run by charity Friends of the Elderly, since January - taught piano and general studies at St Nicholas’ School in Fleet for 20 years.

She said: “I adored my job as a teacher. I taught pupils who were aged seven, so were in Year 3, who were all wonderful.”

Teachers Helen Pritchard and Angela McKenzie founded St Nicholas’ School in 1935. It was at Branksomewood Road in Fleet before moving to Church Crookham in 1996.

Jean added: “The school has a great history, and up until 1964 was a boarding school. When the Second World War began in 1939, as it was so near to the Army barracks in Aldershot, the school provided a safe and caring place while parents were moved between barracks across the country.”

Her focus while teaching general studies was to broaden pupils’ knowledge by covering subjects such as the arts and society.

Jean said: “General studies was first introduced into the UK’s curriculum back in 1959. It was put in place to give pupils a foundation in subjects including humanities and social science to supplement their other studies.”

She enjoyed teaching general studies but her passion was music. “To be honest, if I could turn back time, I would have made sure I taught more music and piano,” continued Jean. “Each class was so gratifying and fulfilling. Being able to impart my musical knowledge and piano skills was so worthwhile.”

Jean has happy memories of her pupils: “I had one pupil who insisted that he always crawled on the floor during my music lessons. He’d join in with his classmates but remained on the floor. He was attentive and inquisitive, and very musically inclined, so to keep him engaged I let him stay on the floor. Years later he was diagnosed with autism, and I’m sure he still enjoys music.”

Another loved the clarinet: “He played the clarinet beautifully and progressed very well, and I believe after leaving school continued playing and got very far.”

Jean kept them focused: “To make sure I had the pupils’ undivided attention, I would whisper so they had to listen carefully to what I was saying. I’d then sing, which certainly kept them on their toes.

“I’d much rather be the funniest person in the room compared to the cleverest. My pupils were exceptionally well-behaved - they always did their homework, were polite and never played pranks on me.”

The Lawn’s registered manager Steve Swift said: “Jean really is a font of knowledge. She’s a wonderful lady and still plays the piano for her care home friends. She really is very talented and it’s a pleasure to hear her play.”

Jean concluded: “I worked hard to make sure that the pupils’ years at the school were happy, engaging, interesting, productive and, of course, enjoyable. It was important to me that when the pupils progressed, they were confident young people.”