PUPILS and staff at a Hyndburn school have been left ‘shocked and devastated’ by the death of their headteacher.

Mary Nolan had worked at St Mary’s RC Primary School in Clayton-le-Moors for 26 years and became head in 2014.

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The 63-year-old was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was unable to return to school after the Christmas holidays. She died on Monday, February 13, at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

Miss Nolan was deputy headteacher for several years before becoming acting head in 2013.

Peter Holden, chairman of governors, said Miss Nolan, who lived in Waterfoot, was ‘incredibly dedicated to education and was an inspiration to countless young people’.

He said: “The pupils and staff returned to school on Monday and were all shocked and devastated by the news as Mary had been part of the school for so long.

“Miss Nolan knew each of her pupils individually. She genuinely knew everyone in the school having also taught many of the parents. She was dedicated to the school that was her life.”

He added Miss Nolan, who was a season ticket holder at Blackburn Rovers, would spend a great deal of time ensuring pupils from a disadvantaged background got the best possible education.

Her sister, Clare Nolan-Barnes, said she started her career in Brighton later returning to her hometown of Waterfoot where she lived in the house they grew up in.

She said: “There’s a phrase used ‘every child matters’ and they really did to Mary. If a child was struggling that would be the one she would focus on.

“She could recognise the different talents of every child. She wanted to make sure whatever their background they were given a chance.”

She said before starting at St Mary’s her sister also taught traveller children on a bus in Preston and would take them on trips to the library.

Ms Nolan came from a big family and used to take her nephews and nieces to Blackburn Rovers games.

Miss Nolan-Barnes said: “She was one of the most caring people you could meet and even at the end she had a smile on her face.”

A requiem mass will be held at St James the Less Church in Rawtenstall at 1pm on Monday. She will be buried at Rawtenstall Cemetery.