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KATHERINE SPARROW

RAN CRAVEN SCHOOL FOR 40 YEARS

Mrs Katherine Fitzgerald Sparrow, who for forty years ran Craven School, Newbury, died in Donington Hayes Nursing Home on Sunday aged 70.

Mrs Sparrow started the school in 1928 with one pupil at premises in West Mills and built it up at 16 Craven Road before moving to 1 Rockingham Road, her home at the time of her death.

 She had as many as 60 pupils at the school at one time, many of whom gained successes to Christ's Hospital and the local grammar schools.

She taught the piano and took part in many local music festivals. Until taken ill in 1969 she played the violin with Newbury Amateur Orchestral Union, now Newbury Symphony Orchestra. Music was an obsession with her and in 1968, at the age of 67, she enrolled with the Royal College of Music.

Mrs. Sparrow was keen on carnivals and her entries in the King George V silver jubilee carnival in 1936; the Queen's Coronation in 1953 and the St Nicolas' Church carnival, all won first prize.

 She came from a teaching family. Her grandfather was the first headteacher of St Nicolas' School at the time when education became compulsory, and her mother was headmistress of the St Mary's School, Speenhamland. Her father, Mr. James Edward Pratt, kept a newsagent's shop at 64 Cheap Street.

 Among her other activities was bridge. She was a keen player and at one time won a large cup at a bridge competition in the Corn Exchange.

She is survived by a twin son, Mr. John Sparrow, who is a chief engineer with the United States Line, and a daughter, Mrs. Jill Rufus, who teaches music at a Stevenage, Hertfordshire School. She also leaves three granddaughters.

The funeral service is at St Nicolas' Church, at 12 noon tomorrow and burial will follow in the family plot at Newtown Road cemetery.

 Newbury Weekly News ? July 1971

BMD Birth Sep Q 1900

Buried 25 July 1971

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