A woman who spent most of her working life as a matron to boarders at Keswick School has died, aged 95.
Miss Mary Warriner was born and educated in Kendal and completed her nurse training before moving to Keswick, where she lived for more than 60 years, to take on the role that she loved.
She became very much a part of the community and was an active member of Crosthwaite Parish Church where she sang in the choir. She was also a member of Keswick Choral Society taking part in the Rural Choirs Festival and was involved with Keswick Flower Club.
Her niece Joan Atherton said: “She was so involved with the school, that was her life, but she was also very active in her retirement.
“She spent a lot of time visiting people in nursing homes and she was always looking out for her neighbours.”
At times she was also active with the local Save the Children charity and the now defunct Thornthwaite-cum-Braithwaite Women’s Institute.
When she moved to Keswick, she originally lived at Eleventrees and then moved to Stanger Street, where she lived with her mother, Doris. She then moved to Elliott Place, near Booths, where she had the misfortune of twice being flooded out of her home and on one occasion had to be rescued by boat.
She later moved to Homethwaite House, a retirement complex in Eskin Street, and finally her family moved her to a care home in Renfrewshire, in Scotland, where she died on October 10.
Mrs Atherton said that her aunt was an adventurous lady who loved to travel and had been youth hostelling Norway and holidaying in Spain. During the 1960s she
hired a camper van and went touring around Scotland.
She also loved walking and would often take boys in her care out onto the fells.
Miss Warriner also loved spending time with her family and had two nephews and a niece, seven great nephews and nieces and 12 great, great nephews and nieces.
People have also taken to social media to pay tribute to her and Huw Jones said: “She was the most lovely person. She was wholly committed to the well being of the boys in her care and was a most kind and patient soul. I have nothing but fond memories of her – and of her lovely spaniel Peter.”
Chris Falshaw said: “A lovely lady who we probably did not appreciate enough as boarders at School House. Her famous fizzy vitamin C tablets were a cure for every ailment and I still take one daily!”
School House housemaster John Pickard said: “Mary was an exceptional matron for over 30 years. She was responsible for the health and wellbeing of over 40 boys in School House from the ages of 11 to 15.
“Many of these boys were away from home for the first time and some came from outside the UK. She was very approachable and able to provide a motherly ear. While being a good listener, she could be firm when necessary. She was a great support to me in running the boarding house.”
And Donald Postlethwaite said: “Mary always had a kind word and cheery smile for all.”
A family funeral will take place in Renfrewshire on Friday October 27.
