Honoured for 33 years' service to education

Dec 31 2008 By The Journal

A COUPLE who have dedicated more than 30 years to education join the list of Northerners honoured by the Queen in her New Year’s Honours List.

Ronald Eunson and his wife Susan, both school governors in Newcastle, are now looking forward to retirement with an MBE each.

They are among dozens of teachers, police officers, charity workers, soldiers and public servants to be recognised in the list of luminaries.

Having met during their teacher training in Scotland, the pair went on to hold teaching posts in schools across the North East, as well as Newcastle University, before starting a family in Gosforth, Newcastle.

The couple, who have a two grown-up children, a son, James, and a daughter, Jean, now live in Brunton Park, near Gosforth, and retired from their governing roles at the start of the school year.

Ronald was chair of governors at Broadway East First School and Gosforth Central Middle, while Susan was a governor at Gosforth Park First School and Gosforth East Middle School.

Collectively, they had notched up 33 years’ service and were involved in all aspects of their schools.

Ronald said: "When we got the official-looking Cabinet Office letters back in mid-November, I thought ‘oh dear, what’s this?’

"When I saw we’d been nominated for MBEs, I was stunned. It came as a big surprise and we still don’t know who nominated us, but it’s lovely they thought of us. I turned 70 this year and Susan is 64, so we thought it was time to call it a day, especially after 33 years between us.

"We’re still keeping very busy though. The idea of having more spare time is really a myth, but we’re enjoying reading, travelling to the countryside and going for walks."

It seems the couple were destined to be involved in education. Susan’s dad used to teach at the old Heaton Boys’ Grammar School and both their children are now teachers. James works in Chester and Jean is based in Gateshead.

Ronald added: "I’d like to think we’ve made a difference along the way, not only to the pupils, but in supporting younger teachers, too.

"Our schools organised a special evening for us during the summer in recognition of our long service and that was really nice. It’s all very humbling."

"Susan was a governor for Gosforth Park First School and Gosforth East Middle School, which is where our son, James, and daughter, Jean, went before they attended Gosforth High School.

"We’ve tried to support our schools in any way we can, including going to as many functions as possible and getting to know all the staff and the pupils."

Page 2: Dorothy's recognised for her heritage centre work