My mother, Sheena Anthoney, who has died aged 81, was an early years teacher and an active member of her community.
She began her teaching career in 1957 at Barlanark school, Glasgow, taught at Prestonpans infant school, near Edinburgh, then went to work for Lothian council in Haddington, where she was a playgroup adviser. She worked as a nursery teacher at Greengables nursery school in the Craigmillar area of Edinburgh, and in 1983 became headteacher at North Berwick nursery school. On her retirement in 1995 she was made Rotary Club citizen of the year in recognition of her “dedication, warmth, and belief in giving children the best possible start”.
Born in Glasgow, she was christened Jean, but was always called by its Gaelic derivative, Sheena. Her father, John Crawford, was a railwayman and her mother, Mary (nee McCubbin), a seamstress. From the family home in Carntyne, Sheena watched the Luftwaffe bombing Clydeside. Attending Glasgow high school for girls, she proved a natural student and the friendships she made there lasted a lifetime, as did her love of learning.
In 1951 she spent a month in the Cairngorms as part of a mountaincraft programme for Glaswegian pupils. After this, mountains were in her blood. She loved her adventures: across the Highlands and all over the world to the Atlas, Andes and Tatra ranges.
While studying English literature at Glasgow University she fell in love with David Anthoney, an engineer. They married in 1960 and had four children. In 1973 the family moved to East Lothian when David got a job as a lecturer in mechanical engineering at Esk Valley College (now Jewel and Esk College) in Dalkeith.
After her retirement from teaching, Sheena’s dedication to young children remained. She spent two summers caring for orphaned children in Bolivia, and befriended vulnerable families with the charity Home-Start East Lothian, of which she was chair. Living in North Berwick, she became one of the town’s most active citizens.
A leading light in fair trade and transition town groups, Sheena helped establish a successful ethical goods shop. She also played a key role in maintaining coastal walking pathways and the town’s flower displays. She led walks for the Ramblers, ushered for the cinema club and volunteered at the day centre.
Her marriage to David ended in divorce. She was to find love once more with Douglas Dewar, but their time together was cut short by his death in 2000.
Sheena is survived by her children, Gillian, Alan, Gordon and me, and 11 grandchildren.
