www.dameallans.co.uk
In 2011, the PE department embarked on a tour to Singapore. Somewhere along the line Sandra’s true status was lost in translation. Much to her delight, the hosts welcomed her in the belief that she was a dignitary and was actually in fact Dame Eleanor Allan herself. Mrs Rickaby was no longer – she returned from Singapore as a dame who was over three hundred years old and not a wrinkle in sight.
As befitting a dame, Sandra had high standards. She was a stickler for abiding by the rules – however, despite being a newly acclaimed dignitary, there were times when her emotions got the better of her. One such occasion arose during a Wimbledon trip. Sandra was explaining to the group how important it was to respect the players’ privacy and not under any circumstances were they to ‘chase after’ or ‘ shout after’ a player, no matter how excited they were. As she was explaining this, out of the corner of her eye she saw Boris Becker (for those of you who are too young to remember, Becker was the youngest player to win the Wimbledon Men’s singles title when he was only nineteen), she shrieked at the top of her voice – ‘it’s Boris’ and much to everyone’s amazement set off at an impressive speed in pursuit of him. She claimed that she was merely demonstrating how not to behave. Teaching alongside Sandra was not only fun but also a real insight and a privilege. That she was gifted in terms of teaching PE was a given. However, it was Sandra as a person, as a role model, as a human being that inspired and generated the love that she was given by her students. She was a true educator who valued each and every one of her students. She had the ability to make everybody feel like somebody. This was not exclusive to her students. Sandra valued everyone with whom she worked which was one of the many reasons why she was so popular, admired and respected. She was intuitive, nurturing and caring with an innate understanding that there were times when what her students needed the most had nothing to do with what was included in her lesson plan. Sandra would always give of her time unselfishly. These qualities are what her students remember. Each has their own memories and stories of how their interactions with Sandra shaped and changed their lives – each remembers her warmth, care and loyalty, her ability to listen. They said she was a wonderful role model. Her interpersonal and social skills highlighted the importance of being kind, caring and unselfish in a world that sometimes forgets these things. They all felt they became better people because of her. There is no greater accolade and one that Sandra herself would treasure. Sandra’s legacy is clear for all to see. Those of us who knew her, worked with her, spent time with her, were taught by her were lucky. She made a difference. I feel privileged to call her my friend. She was brave beyond compare and courageous in the face of adversity. She made us laugh and she made us cry but most importantly she enriched our lives.
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