It is with deep sadness that I try to write something that does justice to Christine’s memory. It is also a privilege and an honour to pay tribute to her. Quite simply, Christine was both one of my favourite English colleagues and one of my favourite human beings ever. I remember asking my future headmasters to describe my future English colleagues to me at interview in 2004 and they both looked at each, and without missing a beat, described Christine as ‘the loveliest person ever who always has a novel in her hands.’ I quickly realised that was a rare moment of understatement in an interview. It confirmed that this was the school for me too. I count myself incredibly fortunate to have known Christine and had such a brilliant colleague. A long and happy retirement with Nico and their family was so richly deserved. She was such an important influence and role model as a colleague, and I utterly trusted her instincts. I was new to the international circuit and deeply valued Christine’s unassuming integrity and fundamental decency. She was very much an English teacher’s English teacher: radiating empathy, a love of teaching and Literature, and a love of helping people. She was much loved and adored by colleagues and students alike. She was one of those teachers who you would want to teach your own children. Christine was unassuming, humble and a refreshingly private person. I initially got to know her as I gave Christine and Ashley lifts home in my jeep and as our Year 8 classes had end of term football matches. I really valued her warm and wonderfully joyous humour, as well as her dry wit and sense of the absurd. Time spent with Christine was joyous, life-enhancing, inspiring and good for your soul.