How she charmed and terrified me! br I can still see her br (fifty years on) br winging her way br across the quadrangle- br black gown flapping, br small laced feet br pecking the gravel. br br I used to imitate her br in my senior years. br (I wonder if she knew?) br I loved the titillation br of risking detention br in the pursuit of peer approval. br br Miss Wood was quite an actress herself. br Each Monday morning she took br centre stage at assembly. br Diminutive and domineering br (Queen Victoria minus the veil) br she would issue her orders for the week, br before leading us in br her favorite hymn br 'Morning Has Broken' br br I was about twelve br when she took us for Latin - br and for the first time br I met the teacher behind the gown. br She was magnificent - br a brilliant educator br with a passion for her subject br and a devotion to her students. br (Such a generous marker too!) br br I heard she died last year. br She had just turned 104! br She must have spent br the last forty years of her life br without her girls. br br How terribly sad.