Joan Newey (née Silverwood) was born in Rochdale on 17th January 1924 and was forever proud of her Lancastrian roots. She won a place at Manchester High School for Girls and went on to study Classics at University College London. Choosing to go into teaching, her first job was at Bromley High School where she met Margaret Drury, who became a life-long friend. Having moved to Harrow School for Girls to be Head of Classics, in 1954 she married Peter, also a Classicist, but not a teacher. Combining motherhood and career, she worked in a number of schools in South London before becoming second in charge at Roedean.
Joan joined ARLT after the Second World War, was elected onto the Committee in 1948 and became the Association's Secretary in 1953. She became an accomplished exponent of the Direct Method and her lively demonstration lessons were greatly valued. When she stepped down as Secretary in 1958, Arthur Munday wrote warmly of her friendliness, her loyal service to the Association and its smooth running in her hands. In recognition of her outstanding qualities, she had the distinction of being elected a Vice-President of ARLT in 1959 before serving as President from I973 – 1976. She directed a memorable Summer School at Bishop Otter College in Chichester in 1978 and served on the ARLT committee for over half a century.
Over the years, Joan, more recently often with Peter, attended Summer Schools regularly (her last was Roehampton in 2013). In her late eighties, Joan, with Margaret Drury, was actively involved in the planning of the ARLT's Centenary celebrations at the 2011 Summer School at Charterhouse. Indeed, Joan made the welcoming speech at the Centenary Dinner where it was a great pleasure for her to be joined by Arthur Munday's son Nick and Dr Loehry's son Christian.
Despite her failing health over the past three years, Joan continued in her love of Classics. It was entirely fitting that at the celebration of her life in January, Peter invited Roger Davies to read Horace Odes 1.24.
Quis desiderio sit pudor aut modus
tam cari, capitis?
Joan will be remembered with affection for her warmth, humour and dedication to Classics. She is survived by her husband, their two children and three grandchildren, as well as her twin brother.
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