TRIBUTES AFTER DEATH OF COLLEGE GOVERNOR
ACOLLEGE has led tributes to a “truly wonderful” former colleague who has died following a short illness.
SGS College, which has a campus in Filton, yesterday announced the death of Moyra Pascoe.
She was chairwoman of the college’s governing body until very recently, and had previously served as a governor at Filton College, which merged with Stroud College in 2012 to create SGS.
A statement shared on behalf of college leaders said she died recently following “a very brave battle with a short illness”.
The tribute read: “Having had children study at SGS, Moyra was a passionate supporter of the college for many years.
“From extremely humble beginnings, she was a champion of equal opportunities and took great pride in fighting for the rights of young people so that they could receive the life chances they deserved.
“Our thoughts are with Moyra’s husband Ken and their children
Rich and Jon at this sad time.”
It said: “We share in their loss of a truly wonderful and inspirational individual who achieved so much for young people across the region.”
Moyra was said to have played a “pivotal” role in the merger of the two colleges, and in the development of SGS’s WISE campus specialising in sports and the arts.
She worked in the civil service for more than 40 years, and finished her career working for the West of England’s Learning and Skills Council.
It was there that she led on the development of 16-18 education across the region, becoming even more passionate about the benefits of further education for young people.
She became a governor upon her retirement and then chair of the
SGS College Corporation, which is the governing body that oversees the group.
During her years of service, she helped to direct more than £50m of capital investment to improve training and facilities for students.
Her former colleagues said: “She dedicated many hours supporting the college and was a regular visitor to all of the college campuses, where she spent much of her time meeting with staff and learners in order to ensure she was fully immersed in all that the college was delivering.
“As a parent, Moyra also had the pleasure of seeing one of her sons graduate from SGS College, after studying performing arts.
“She spent a lot of time watching productions at the college and providing support to this curriculum area.”
The Olympus Theatre at the WISE campus, in Stoke Gifford, has now been dedicated to Moyra in her honour.
Prior to joining the college, she held a variety of posts in the government office for the South West.
She was a champion of equal opportunities and took great pride in fighting for the rights of young people so that they could receive the life chances they deserved College statement