A FAMILY has paid tribute to a headmistress who served her school for close to 40 years.

June Vallance, who served at Daneshill School from 1950, at its inception, to 1988, died in December, at the age of 92.

June was the eldest daughter of Reverend John and Eleanor Vallance, born in Dinard, Ille et Villaine, France. She had three siblings; Christopher, Jock and Eleanor.

In the early 1930s, a new post was taken by Rev Vallance in Bordighera, Italy, with June and Eleanor were home educated whilst the boys were sent to England.

Before the Second World War broke out, the family moved back to the UK, eventually settling at St Andrew’s, in Sherborne St. John, in 1947.

In 1950 St Salvator’s School, with seven children, was inaugurated, in one of the rectory’s cottages with June and Eleanor, who had both been teaching at local prep schools, joining their parents in teaching as pupil numbers rose steadily.

In 1954, Daneshill House, Old Basing, was bought by Meg and Jock Vallance and St Salvator’s was moved in to the Lutyens designed house and took on the name it is known as to this day, Daneshill School.

Older girls and boarders were now taken and a new junior school at adjoining Binfields Farm created with pupil numbers rising to nearly 200.

In 1972, the school reverted to a prep school and in 1973, Daneshill House was bought by Hampshire County Council and a new home was found at Dogmersfield Park, near Odiham.

In 1979, Bylands at Stratfield Turgis was acquired and the school moved.

It remains there today and is approaching its seventieth anniversary.

June, her sister, Eleanor, and brother-in-law, George Ames, retired in 1988.

A family statement said: “Miss Vallance had educated and adored all her pupils to such an extent that they were each recalled individually when they came up in conversation. Her close relationship with parents, staff and second generation parents assured the continuing longevity of Daneshill.

“There was always much chat about how bored she would be in retirement but with golf, woodwork, NADVAS, school governorships, Latin, ancient Greek, advanced French, gardening, former pupils’ weddings, her diary was fuller than ever.”

The family recalled one startling travel story of their dear aunt.

The statement added: “In the late 1960s June and two companions embarked on what even today would be unusual by motoring in her baby blue Mini all the way to Moscow.

“The Mini also had to accommodate the InTourist guide who joined them for some of the journey. The roof rack was an essential accessory.”

June leaves nine nieces and nephews and ten great-nieces and great-nephews.

A memorial service announcement will follow, with the ceremony likely to be held in April.