Julia Andrew (nee Page) – 5s, 6s 62-70

Submitted by Mary Harris

Julia was born in Woolwich, the oldest of 5 children, two girls and three boys. The family moved around SE London finally settling in Eltham where Julia did well at school, particularly in maths. At age eleven she gained a place at Christs Hospital, Hertford and she loved it, crying at the end of each term!

Julia enjoyed chapel and particularly singing in the chapel choir; she joined in all school activities with gusto, acting in the house plays but completing the required needlework assignments with somewhat less enthusiasm. Her love of maths continued to flourish and after A Levels she moved on to teacher training college in Chichester. Her first job as a secondary school maths teacher was in Ash, Surrey.

Julia met and married Patrick and they settled down together in Guildford to raise their family of 5 children, three girls and two boys. Sadly their eldest daughter Rachel was disabled and died when she was five years old. Julia continued to take a variety of teaching jobs when she could fit them in around her commitments to her family and her local church.

With her family grown up Julia took what was to be her last teaching job at Hurtwood House an independent Sixth Form College, where she not only taught but acted as a house parent. She was a committed and brilliant teacher, always kind and patient with her pupils, as testimonials from thankful parents showed. She retired from Hurtwood House in 2019 after 20 years service.
At about the same time as joining Hurtwood House Julia felt a numbing of her feet and was diagnosed with a benign tumour pressing on her spine. After successful surgery she had a number of years of good health before requiring further laser knife procedures to reduce the tumour’s side effects. Sadly in the summer of 2021 Julia began to lose the use of her left arm and, despite further treatment, this was not resolved and in December required time in hospital as she lost the use of her left leg. Despite being in considerable pain Julia remained upbeat and determined to get the most out of her stay in rehabilitation and had plans for the future. It was therefore a shock to her family and friends when she suddenly became more unwell and died in early January, with her family at her bedside.

Julia was a patient and constant friend, a lover of reading, cryptic crosswords and sudoku as well as puddings, walks in the countryside and exciting holidays in exotic locations. Julia’s funeral in her beloved church, where she had sung in the choir and served as Sacristan for many years, was a true celebration of her life. Her family and friends miss her very much but are comforted by their knowledge of her enduring faith in God and the life hereafter.