Born in Germany of a british army father and german mother her first language was german and she did not start to speak english until starting school in Germany. Inevitably her first school years were a struggle as she learnt to speak english and her education in British Forces schools was quite disruptive as her father was posted to Cyprus, Hongkong and back to Germany. She arrived in England for most of her secondary education and completed a secretarial skills course enabling her to get a role as PA to a personnal officer in Trowbridge.
Attending evening classes encouraged her to set her sights higher and, after gaining A levels, she applied to go to university for a 4 years teacher training course.
Her first teaching job was at the Kingsfield School in Bristol from 1972 -77.This was somewhat a babtism of fire as she had to overcome shyness and also gain confidence whilst teaching boys and girls of 11 -16 years. It was here that she came to the conclusion here that boys are easier to teach than girls. Ultimately the school burnt down and she had to make a decision to stay or move on and so applied for a promotion
1977 was a big year, Elfriede married music teacher, Paul, and also secured a position at the Marlwood School and was promoted to teaching A levels until 1984 when she returned to Osnabruck in Northern Germany.
At this point her career took a back seat for five years as she accompanied Paul when he was appointed as Head of Music at the Derby Middle School for the children of British forces personnel in Germany. She, however, was snapped up as a supply teacher at the Munster boarding school teaching survival tactics to the children and evening beginners classes of basic german to the sqaddies to help them cope with everyday issues.
Being a military person in Germany at that time was like living in a land of milk and honey as NAAFI prices were so low. It also presented the opportunity to explore Europe which they commited to whole heartedly.
When, in 1989, they returned to the UK she was appointed to be the Head of the English Department at the Grosvenor High School, a small private school that catered for children were failing in mainstream education. As well as imparting knowledge to pupils her own education continued spending much time on extra curricular activities including Public Speaking / Poetry Writing Competition, Abseiling down Devon Cliffs, Canoeing and visiting National Trust properties.
Fostering the pupil was central to the school ethos, helping each individual re-gain lost confidence from unpleasant main stream school experiences.
In 1995, having returned to the UK, she was appointed as 2nd in Department at Katherine Lady Berkeley's School in Wootton-under-Edge. Her IT education began in earnest and she was soon able to teach elementary IT. She realised a universal truth that one needs to learn a subject before one can teach it effectively.
She becamw involved in the international Commenious inter-school (Italy, Netherlands, Canaries, Spain) colleges where the facilities included with extravagant car mechanic workshops, hairdressing salons, catering kitchens & restaurants. Here non-academic pupils from 14-18 learned trades whilst academic students attended conventional high Schools
She officially retired from teaching in 2005 but you could be might be forgiven for thinking that she went through her career as a STUDENT rather than a teacher. Her teaching career had been a balance of LEARNING & GROWING & TEACHING!
Retirement lasted but one year during which time she moved from Clevedon to Bristol and became involved with Redland Green Club Management from 2006 onwards.
In her words she had moved from MARKING to MARKETING - transferable skills indeed!