FORMER Otley and Ilkley head teacher Dorothy Wood has died aged 86.

Miss Wood, who was a former head girl at Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley and head teacher at the town's Newall Infants School for 14 years, died last weekend at Airedale General Hospital.

A headteacher in Burley-in-Wharfedale, Ilkley and Otley, she was the first woman president of the Wharfedale branch of the National Association of Head Teachers, was a founder member of Otley Little Theatre and member of the Otley Townswomens Guild.

Born in 1917, Miss Wood was educated at Prince Henry's Grammar School, Bingley Training College and Leeds University before taking up her lifetime career in teaching. She spent more than 25 years at Newall Infants School in Otley, starting out as an assistant teacher.

She became head teacher at Burley CoE Infants School and then head teacher at Ilkley CoE Infants before moving back to Newall Infants for the remainder of her career.

Christened and confirmed at Otley Parish Church, she served for many years on the Parochial Church Council and was its secretary. Miss Wood was a member of the Otley Conservative Association from joining the Young Conservatives at 16 years old.

She was actively involved in many local organisations - including the Road Safety Committee and Otley Comm-unity Council. She was the first woman President of the Wharfedale branch of the National Association of Head Teachers. Founder member, ex President and Life Member of Otley Little Theatre, a member from the inaugural meeting of the Chippendale Society. She was an active member of Otley Townswo-men's Guild and of Otley Ladies Lifeboat Guild.

l The funeral service will be held on Monday, at Otley Parish Church at 12 noon followed by interment at Otley Cemetery at 1pm.