Janet Hughes 1945-2020

Janet led a rich and fulfilling life and died peacefully at her son’s home, surrounded by her two children, Gareth and Lindsey, and her five grandchildren.

The sad news reached us after her son Gareth and his wife Julia attended an open day at LEH.  They were shown round by two current pupils who helped them find Janet’s name on the university honours board as well as on a paving stone in the grounds.

“Janet spoke so warmly of her time at LEH and the opportunities and friendships it gave her,” said Julia.  “We had all assumed that when the time came to attend an open day for our daughter Annabel, that Janet would be attending with us.  It was therefore hugely poignant for us to see her name at the school and we are very grateful to our guides.”

After attending LEH from 1956-1963, Janet went to Girton College, Cambridge, to read Natural Sciences and, having completed a PhD at the University of London, became a lecturer at the London School of Pharmacy.

She took some time out to concentrate on her family, and then returned to work as a science teacher at Kings Manor Secondary School in Shoreham before moving on to teach A level students at Crawley College, Worthing College and the Open University.

Janet loved singing choral music and often sang operatic arias around the house, especially as she cooked. She was an active member of the Brighton Orpheus Choir, an usher at Glyndebourne and a volunteer at Nyman’s National Trust House. She was an intrepid traveller and maintained her lifelong love of learning with water colour and history of art classes. In her youth she was a keen rower, and a member of the Cambridge University Boat Club, and in later life stayed active as a rambler, as well as enjoying a regular dip in the sea at Brighton.

At her funeral last year, her son Gareth paid tribute to her many friends from school days and beyond.  “Please know that my Mum valued your friendship immensely and that you were a huge part of her life.  I know this for a fact, because every time I called her, I would be brought up to speed on all recent developments in your lives.  We feel we know you very well.”