A retired headmistress who taught in Bradford schools for 41 years has died.

Maisie Swift, formerly Smith, nee Hall, was a resident in Ashville Care Home. She was 87.

Mrs Swift was born in Idle and attended Idle Primary School.

She gained a scholarship to Bellvue Girl's School and after studying in the sixth form went to Teacher Training College in Leeds for two years.

Her first teaching posts were in the Greengates area of Bradford.

Mrs Swift's first headship was at Idle Church School. She later became head of Lorne Street Junior School, which she saw through its transition to Fenby Middle School in 1973. She retired in 1975, aged 61

Mrs Swift's interests included football and other sports, opera, reading historical novels and working with the Bradford Boy's Police Club.

When Mrs Swift retired Anne Farrar, deputy headmistress at Fenby Middle School led the tributes to the work she had done with children down the years

She said: "Mrs Swift promoted high standards of academic achievement and fairness in school life.

"She was keen for her pupils to be well disciplined and have good manners but she was interested in the children's welfare too and welcomed parents into school. She worked for an amazing amount of years without a break in service, as she didn't have children.

"She also stayed on until she was 61, to see the transition to middle school through.

Mrs Swift was married twice and leaves a niece, Patricia.

A funeral service and cremation will take place at Nab Wood Crematorium on Friday at 1.30pm.