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Brenda J Howe
Brenda Joan Howe, OBE
BRENDA Howe, who has died aged 86, was a distinguished headmistress of Thorseby High School for Girls in Leeds before being appointed chief adviser for schools in the city.
Born at Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, she won a scholarship to St Dominic’s High School – the beginning of a distinguished academic career – and went on to study history at Birmingham University, gaining first class honours in her subject. From there, she went on to study for a Cambridge post-graduate diploma, being awarded a first class diploma.
As a result of that achievement, she was awarded a research scholarship, and after a spell in teaching, in 1950 she took it up to carry out research, under Professor JS Neale, into the Elizabethan Parliament.
Most of her work for that was carried out in the Houses of Parliament. However, her passion for teaching was such that she gave up her research, leaving her findings with Professor Neale, and returned to Paddock House in Lancashire where her teaching career had begun.
Miss Howe then moved to Clayton Grammar school in Newcastle where she became deputy head.
In 1962, she was awarded the Walter Hines Page, English Speaking Scholarship to visit the United Stated for three months, and there she studied American education, and gave talks on English education.
In 1965, she was appointed headmistress of Thoresby High School for Girls in Leeds.
When in 1973/4 the reorganisation of local government was being planned, she was asked to research its effects on schools, and to help with the aftermath. In addition, she was responsible for organising in-service training for teachers in Leeds.
Her reputation was now such that she was selected to be one of three experts – German, Italian and British – to work in Brussels on a research project The Transfer from School to Work. The group’s report was published for distribution among member countries of the EU 1976.
Back in Leeds, Miss Howe’s work on preparing for the schools’ reorganisation led to her appointment as co-ordinator of the service, and in 1976 she became chief adviser for schools.
She was awarded the OBE for services to education in 1982, and in 1985, she was made an honorary fellow of Leeds Metropolitan University.
That same year she retired, leaving Leeds to live with her sister, Wyn, in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Vigorous and enthusiastic, Miss Howe enjoyed travel, music and drama, and supported the local drama companies and orchestras around the Potteries. She also returned to Leeds for concerts in the Town Hall.
For many years she was an active member of Soroptimist International, and in 1976-1977 was president of the Leeds Club.
The value the organisation places on international goodwill and understanding, its mission of combating discrimination against women and girls around the world, and its health and education projects appealed to her profoundly, and following her move to Newcastle-under-Lyme, she continued her association by supporting the local Soroptimists club.
She is survived by her sister, Wyn.
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