POPULAR retired head teacher and community member Alison Dumont has died at home, aged 82, in the arms of her husband, after a two-year battle with cancer.

Alison Dumont was born in Surrey, the middle of three children. As a young girl, she moved to Barrow-in-Furness, to live with her grandad, aunty and uncle and little sister following the death of her mother. The sandy beaches of Walney Island were the high point of Alison’s childhood.

Alison also loved school and was delighted to be accepted at Barrow Grammar School, where she became head girl.

She met her future husband, John Dumont, at a badminton club in Barrow, despite him thinking her a ‘terrible’ badminton player. He then supported her while she completed teacher training at Crewe.

After getting married, Alison taught maths at Ullswater Boys Secondary Modern. She was a popular teacher there, not just for her teaching skills, but also because female teachers were still relatively unusual at Ullswater in those days – especially those who drove sports cars and wore the 60s fashion of short skirts.

Alison and John lived in Penrith, then Askham, before settling in Kirkoswald where she remained until the mid-1980s, bringing up their three children Clare, Giles and Frances.

In Kirkoswald, she enjoyed being part of a village community, helping set up the village play group and establishing the brownie and cub dens.

She extended her social life by joining Ladies Circle, where she was president for a time. Her friendships that began here, and in her village, led to life-long friendships.

As a way of thanking all their friends over the year, a tradition began of Boxing Day party, open to all. This became a legendary event that lasted over 50 years. Their hospitality was renowned, with a never-ending stream of guests staying at their home – their door was always open.

Alison taught at both Kirkoswald and Renwick Primary Schools, then moved to Morton Park Primary School in Carlisle before landing her dream job as head of Ivegill C of E School.

Her proudest achievement was not the Outstanding rating from Ofsted, but instead the raising of pupil numbers from 20 up to 75.

She was ahead of her time, being one of the first schools in Cumbria to introduce Apple computers to the pupils.

Another bold move was to set up a gifted and talented programme on Saturdays, attracting children from across the county.

Following retirement, she and John began to travel extensively. Family caravan trips round Europe were swapped for more exotic travel, often off the beaten track, including to China, New Zealand, Canada, Sweden, Chile and the Galapagos Islands.

Alison took on lots of volunteer roles, including being a parent governor for the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, working on advisory panels for United Utilities and the Ambulance Trust and becoming an active member of the Penrith Credit Union.

With teaching in her blood, Alison was also a private tutor to many and was a highly regarded and successful exam marker well into her 70s, enjoying many training weekends away with her daughter Frances, also a teacher.

Alison will be remembered for her gusto for a life very well-lived, her wicked sense of humour and her deep friendships far and wide. Her infectious smile will be 'greatly missed' according to her daughter, Frances. 

She is survived by her sister Hilary and Hilary’s extended family, her husband John and their three children and partners.

She was also a very proud and loving Granny to her six grandchildren, Sadie, Hugo, Oscar, Felix, Adam and Holly.