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Betty O’Neill

Very sad news. Betty O’Neill, a former art teacher at Hallcroft Girls’ School and one of Ilkeston Life newspaper’s best loved contributors, died peacefully on 6th January 2025.

Her daughter Trish Gannon writes:

Betty was so very loved by her family and also by many of the readers of Ilkeston Life, who took great pleasure in her stories and pictures of her early life growing up in Ilkeston. A former pupil of Hallcroft Girls’ School, Betty went on to train at the prestigious Bath Academy of Art in the 1950s, with the University of Bristol as its awarding body at that time. After completing her teacher training and teaching in schools around the Bath area, Betty returned to her roots and became an art teacher at Hallcroft. She went on to teach at secondary schools around Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and was a well-loved and inspirational art teacher.

She later went on to write her book, ‘Love, Laughter and Tears’, which included many of the stories she wrote for Ilkeston Life. The Rt. Hon. The Lord Laming, a friend of Betty’s and husband of one of her closest friends at art college, wrote in the introduction to the book, ‘Betty trained as a teacher and taught art in the local schools. When later her illness restricted her speech she set about producing for her family a text beautifully illustrated by her distinctive paintings. The reality is that by her skill and tenacity she produced a great deal more. Her book is a remarkable record of the social history of our country principally during the 1940s and 1950s.’

Michael, her beloved husband, said ‘my wife’s dogged determination to uncomplainingly accept whatever life’s misfortunes have thrown at her, and to still keep smiling, is unbelievable. A very brave woman.’

Betty leaves behind devoted husband Michael, loving son and daughter in law Patrick and Justine, a much-loved daughter and son in law Trish and Chris, a treasured sister and brother-inlaw Cynth and Fred, and her much-loved grandchildren Patrick and Thomas.

The funeral service will take place on Friday 31st January at Bramcote Crematorium (Reflection chapel) at 11.30 am. Family flowers only please however donations in lieu will be gratefully received for Ward 2 at the Florence Nightingale Community Hospital. Further enquiries to Bespoke Funeralcare, Bespoke house, Brussells Terrace, Ilkeston. Tel 0115 8501888

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