The church bells of St Nicholas and St Faith Church, Saltash, tolled for the funeral of Janet Ann Warren, former Headteacher of Saltash Junior School, and a bell ringer at the church for several years .

Officiating at the service the Rev Pamela Sellix, Curate, who gave the eulogy, said that so many people knew Janet in so many different ways, as a teacher, someone they shared a creative or social activity with, and a good friend.

She was one of the team of ringers at St Nicholas with her husband David, and the couple both attended St Nicholas Church.

Janet was born in Newlyn and was deeply connected to Cornwall and her Cornish heritage all her life. She spent all of her teaching career at Saltash Junior School, retiring as Headteacher in December 1997 after 32 years’ service at the school. So many of Janet’s former pupils remembered her with great respect and affection, and this was echoed by colleagues and former pupils’ parents on her rapport with children, her willingness to co-operate when needed and her organisational skills.

After she retired she became a JP in the youth court where she acted as a mentor to children who were in all kinds of trouble. Janet had other quite different skills and interests, with music, art, appreciation of pictures and artists, and her own drawing and painting, an ability she used later in transcribing 18th century documents for Saltash Heritage. She was a keen photographer and gardener.

Her many talents were offered in the service of others and often in the public eye, with all that entails in terms of organisation and diplomacy.

She married David in 1972 and shared his passion for sailing, and was a member of various sailing clubs, helping to organise national races.

Sadly, David became ill and needed professional care and went into Chyvarhas at Callington where he died in December 2020. Janet was deeply saddened by his death as he was the centre of her life.

Janet died unexpectedly, peacefully at home at the age of 76 early in May 2021 and is missed by so many in the community.

Former and present members of the teaching staff of Saltash Junior School and bellringers of St Nicholas and St Faith Church were among those attending the funeral service.

Family mourners: Miss Jane Simmons, Mrs Monica Simmons, Mr Ian Simmons, MS. Mel Newell (all cousins).

The Bible reading was given by the Rev Bob Munro.

Music at the beginning of the service was “Cornwall my Home” and hymns played were “Praise my Soul the King of Heaven” and “The King of Love my Shepherd is” and the cortege left to the music of “ Sail Away”. A cremation followed at Weston Mill, Plymouth.

Donations in memory of Janet were for Newlyn Art Gallery Ltd.