Old Viking Judith Smail 1949-2022

It is with genuine sadness to have to share the news that former staff member Judy Smail died last week. Judy was a huge part of the Shiplake community having worked at the College for 27 years. With huge thanks to former staff member Lindsay McDonald for providing us with the following tribute to his colleague and friend.

Judith Smail (“Jude” or “Judy”) started at Shiplake College in 1982. Darling mother to Laura and Jo, but also “mother figure” to hundreds of Shiplake boys, who never forgot or will ever forget her, Jude had a terrific sense of humour and was genuinely caring about every single pupil she taught. She was a first-rate teacher; she loved teaching the able, but she loved the “toe-rags” even more. The government concept of “Every Child Matters” was something that came around at the turn of the millennium, but Jude had had that approach for a couple of decades already. “Formidable”, as the French would say, but just as formidable in English, Jude was a dedicated, no-nonsense teacher with an extremely warm heart. She recognised mental health issues in teenage boys and dealt with them in a caring motherly way, long before mental health issues became what they are today.

At OVS reunions a question often asked was “How is Mrs Smail?”, asked with genuine interest and bubbly boyish enthusiasm – even from fully grown adult males. A teacher is often forgotten by pupils unless that teacher makes a lasting impact and that is something that Jude did. This came from her selflessness and her willingness to help every individual the best she could.

An enduring memory of Judith Smail is her one day declaring that she had run out of ideas with one particular boy and his GCSE French. He scraped a C grade and Jude was so delighted for him. He did not join the sixth form, but, four years later, a letter from this OV appeared on the Headmaster’s Notice Board in which he was apologising to all staff for being so difficult and “particularly to Mrs Smail for never, ever giving up on me.” This is just one example. There must be many OVs out there with similar stories!

An equally enduring memory is of Jude at a porcelain museum in Limoges on one of many of the French school trips she accompanied. During a very boring guided tour where the guide did not speak any English, the trip leader gave extremely succinct (actually ridiculously short) translations so that the pupils and staff could get their free shopping time sooner. This tickled Jude so much, she had to disappear silently from the back of the group. She ended up doubled over in silent hysterics on a seat outside. A security guard asked if Madame was all right and Jude replied that she just needed a little air. For the following few minutes, the tour group could hear Jude’s infectious laughter echoing around the museum until she quickly left the building. It was precisely this sort of Pythonesque situation that would set Jude giggling and what made her such a wonderful colleague to have.

Outside the classroom, Jude ran a highly successful cookery club. It was so successful, that some day boys who had been “ill” all morning would make a miraculous recovery and be in school for the Tuesday afternoon cookery club. As a tutor, those who had Jude were blessed. At one point, Upper Sixth-formers were able to elect their tutor and there were always too many asking for Jude for her to be able to tutor them all. In her later teaching years, she became a hugely popular tutor in Skipwith.

It is often said in teaching that no one is irreplaceable, but I think I speak for hundreds of people, former staff and pupils, that Jude really was an exception to that.

The picture is of Judy around her 60^th birthday when her daughter Laura took her to Venice. It captures perfectly the beautiful lady we all knew. The fact that Jude/Judy/Judith/Mrs Smail/Mme Smail had five appellations speaks volumes about her selfless willingness to accommodate those around her.

Jude remains Mum, to Laura and Jo who were with her when she died peacefully at home in Henley on Saturday 27^th August 2022. She leaves behind her grandchildren Poppy and Arthur and her sisters Libby and Jane.

Chère Judith. A bientôt. Tu vas nous manquer à tous. Enormément.

On behalf of the Old Viking Society, our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Judy's family and friends.