Funeral for former town schoolgirl Pam

Pam Downham more recently worked at Aylesbury’s Quarrendon School where she taught art and craft, and also at Broughton Infants.

She lived in Aylesbury for almost 30 years and supported her husband Ken, who was also a teacher, in his civic work as a district councillor and as Chairman of the Charter Trustees (a role subsequently known as town mayor).

Mrs Downham was born in Tring and attended Berkhamsted Girls School as a day girl.

She met her husband when they both taught at a school in Slough.

In 1959 they both took jobs at Quarrendon School in Aylesbury where Mr Downham taught PE. And in 1962 they moved from Tring to live in the town, at Northfield Road on Broughton estate.

Mr Downham later became deputy headmaster of Broughton Junior School and Mrs Downham taught at the infant school.

Mrs Downham was a great support to her husband in his civic duties as he served on Aylesbury Vale District Council from 1979 to 1987, and was chairman of the Charter Trustees in 1983. During this time the couple met Princess Diana when she came to open Hale Leys shopping centre.

They left the town in 1988 following Mr Downham’s retirement, and moved to Herefordshire.

The couple had two sons, Jeremy and Patrick, who both live nearby to their father, and six grandsons aged from five to 25 years.

The funeral is at St Mary’s Church, Linton, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire on Friday (January 9) at 2pm.