A “LOVING and supportive” former deputy headteacher who taught generations of Swindon youngsters has died.

Mumbai-born Linda Dazely began teaching in Hook in the early 1950s, after emigrating from India to join her late husband Gilbert near Swindon.

In a career spanning four decades, Linda taught at schools across the town. She ended her career as deputy headteacher at Lethbridge Infants School, but also taught at Lawn Infants School and Lydiard Millicent.

Son Rob, 64, paid tribute to his mother: “She was incredibly kind and supportive, not just with her family but with her pupils as well. She was incredibly popular with her pupils and colleagues.

“Going around Swindon with her was like going on a royal visit. You’d meet pupils she’d taught, then you’d meet the parents and even the grandparents.

“She had a great sense of humour and she was one of the best raconteurs.”

But Linda was also a consummate professional, he added: “She was a teacher for 40 years and consistently delivered results.

“She was very, very good at teaching reading. My brothers and I could read when we were much younger than school age.”

Together with husband of 65 years Gilbert, Linda was unafraid of campaigning. The couple appeared in the pages of the Swindon Advertiser in 2011 when Nationwide made moves to shut their Wood Street branch. Gilbert and Linda threatened to close their account with the Swindon-based building society.

Linda, who lived in Old Town before moving to the Princess Lodge Care Home off Okus Road, was a member of the Labour Party.

She was also a keen fan of foreign travel, jetting off to the Caribbean and countries across Europe.

But despite her fondness for travel, Linda never returned to India, the country of her birth.

“She only talked about India when we asked,” said Rob. “In those days you came across on boats, which took between six and eight weeks.” Her view of England had been coloured by the wartime films of actress Greer Garson, “where the whole country was full of thatched cottages and village greens. It was quite a shock for her when they docked in Southampton.”

Rob described his mother as an incredibly social woman: "I remember her telling stories and just being with people. She had dozens and dozens of friends."

Teacher Linda Dazely died on October 26, aged 87, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her three sons and two grandchildren.

A service will be held at Kingsdown Crematorium on Friday, November 30. Donations in aid of Age UK.