A BELOVED teacher who nurtured generations of children across a decades-long career is set to be bestowed with a British Empire Medal.

Beryl Jonsen, from Colchester, spent decades at Monkwick Junior School, where she remained a key part of the teaching staff.

Joining the school in 1988, she was still going strong in 2015, when she turned 80.

She has also taught at Copford and Montgomery primary schools, and has been recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honour list for her work at Holy Trinity Primary School.

Dave Harris, a governor at Monkwick Junior School, said: “She is a wonderful person, my grandchildren loved her and my daughters loved her as well.

“She was at the school for decades - as long as I can remember. It was like every child was her grandchild, she treated them like family and made the atmosphere at the school really brilliant.

“She was so caring to every child and every child mattered to her.”

He added: “I remember Beryl being very fit and healthy, she was still horse riding in her late 70s.

“A very strong person who would also help the trainee teachers a lot too.

"I have been a governor at Monkwick since the late 1980s, so I have been involved with the school for 28 to 30 years, she was there most of that time.

“Really she was a part of the school - I used to walk in and she would even give me a hug.”

Speaking to the Gazette after her 80th birthday in 2015, Beryl said: “I don’t like the ‘R’ word.

“I like to be useful and I just love teaching.”

Mrs Jonsen qualified in Yorkshire in 1955.

She travelled the world with her diplomat husband, teaching when she could and volunteering for charities.

Whenever he was on leave and they were back in the UK, Mrs Jonsen got short placements in different primary schools.

She said: “It’s about looking at the children and thinking ‘I can make a difference here.’

“When I was school, I hated it. I thought school shouldn’t be this bad, it should be fun.

“Children should be having fun and learning at the same time.”

Staff at the East Suffolk and North Essex Trust were also honoured.

Biomedical scientists Stephen Gee was awarded a BEM for his work during the pandemic.

Paul Fenton, director of estates and facilities, was awarded and MBE for his services to the NHS.

Gazette:

Nick Hulme, chief executive of the trust said: “I know that both Paul and Stephen feel both honoured and humbled.

“It is a privilege to work with them both.”

Anne Claydon, from Colchester, a ward manager Barts Health NHS Trust was given an BEM for services to nursing during the pandemic.

Detectives at Essex Police were also awarded the Queen’s Police Medal.