A RESPECTED school teacher who taught alongside one of her friends during her entire working life has died at the age of 103.

Winifred Maw, known as Biddy, taught history at Reid Street Secondary Modern Girls' School, in Darlington, and served as its final headmistress before it closed in 1963.

She was from a family who were central to life in the town and she maintained that devotion until her dying days, despite moving to Yorkshire.

Miss Maw was born in Darlington on December 26, 1907, the second child of Herbert and Annabelle Her father was from Cottingham, near Hull, but moved, first toMiddlesbrough then Darlington, where he worked as an engineer in the booming railway industry.

Hewent on to serve as a councillor for nearly 20 years, was a chairman of the magistrates' bench before retiring aged 75 and opened the extension of the Crown Street library.

Annabelle was from Middlesbrough, but when the family moved to Darlington, she was also involved in public life.

Like her elder sister, Dorothy, and identical twin brothers Herbert and Ronald, Miss Maw was grammar school-educated and went on to university.

She graduated from Armstrong College, in Newcastle, in 1928 and returned to Darlington to teach.

She was a history teacher at Reid Street and worked at the school until its final year of existence before a reorganisation in the town.

She served as its lastl headmistress, taking over for the final two terms from her close friend, Violet Armstrong, who moved to the new Eastbourne School.

The pair had been at school together and remained close friends, even after Miss Maw moved away from Darlington.

When hermother died, Miss Maw and her father moved to Todmorden, in West Yorkshire, where her sister lived.

However, she regularly returned to her hometown and, in December 2007, she was honoured by thenmayoressMarian Swift on her 100th birthday.

MissMaw died lastWednesday in Todmorden aged 103.

Her funeral takes place at Burnley Crematorium on Thursday, at 10am.

Her great nephew, Julian Maw, said: "She was a lady of great resourcefulness and lots of spirit.

"Looking through her personal effects, I found that she had kept letters from past pupils, thanking her for her guidance and support.

"I would like to think she was well-respected."