Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Teacher, 52, died on return to home city
Tributes to woman ‘who always put pupils first’
A memorial service has been held to remember the life of a much-loved teacher who dedicated her life to education.
Elizabeth Chubb died aged just 52, after suffering a heart attack in Canterbury.
She had been visiting her parents, Jo and Peter Chubb, at the city home she grew up in at Hillside Avenue, and was at the University of Kent when she complained of chest pains.
She was rushed by ambulance to the QEQM Hospital in Margate but medics were unable to save her. News of her death last month devastated staff and colleagues at the prestigious Stowe School in Buckinghamshire, where she was head of the history of art department.
The school held a memorial to Miss Chubb on Thursday, two days after her funeral at St Michael and All Angels’ Church in Harbledown.
A statement on the school’s website said she started at Stowe in the Easter of last year and “immediately invigorated the history of art team”. It continued: “With her energy, enthusiasm and sense of fun, let alone the endless supply of cakes, pies and buns, she thrilled her students and encouraged her colleagues.
“She attended everything in school life – talks, concerts, plays, lectures, opera, cricket matches – all in support of the life of the school.
“Liz was much-loved by her tutees and pupils about whom she cared deeply and she was notably present early on results day to help with advice and contacts at universities.
“The Higher Project Qualification course in the Junior School could not have run without her but for Liz, more importantly, were the times she could follow her other passions: Test cricket and listening to classical music.
“The Stowe community will miss her positive view of life, her deep faith and her warm empathy with all.”
One of two children, Miss Chubb grew up in Hillside Avenue and attended Blean Primary School. She won a scholarship to Kent College, where she was later made head girl.
She joined the RAF as an education officer, but left after three years to start a teacher-training course in London.
She never married and taught mainly at schools in and around Buckinghamshire.
Her mother Jo said: “She was such a wonderful teacher and always put her pupils first. We’re all so, so proud of what she achieved.”