It is with sadness that we announce the passing of former Speech and Drama teacher Mrs Anna Mistry. She passed away on 21st March 2019 at her home in Chester.
Mrs Mistry was a much loved and respected teacher at The Queen’s School. She retired in 2017 having gained the accolade of being the longest-serving member of staff with 47 years of service for five headmistresses under her belt! Joining the school as Miss Stuart in 1971, she taught, guided, listened, advised, encouraged and supported hundreds of pupils during her career.
The funeral arrangements have now been confirmed as:
Monday 15 April 2019
12noon Funeral Service at St Oswald’s Church, Backford, CH2 4BE followed by burial.
Mrs Mistry made a difference to the lives of so many girls during her time at Queen’s and any donations to the School Bursary Fund in her memory will be gratefully received by the Alumni Office.
A tribute to Mrs Mistry from alumna Tabatha Leggett '09
Anna Mistry, who lit up the world with her boundless energy, wicked sense of humour and iconic blue mascara has sadly passed away.
Mrs Mistry was a Speech and Drama teacher at Queen’s for 47 years, coaching countless students through their LAMDA exams in both Acting and Verse & Prose. She was the most inspiring teacher I ever had.
But she was so much more than just a teacher. Anyone who was taught by Mrs Mistry will agree that, yes: she taught us how to enunciate; how to do an impressive number of accents; and how to walk properly in that frankly ridiculous practice skirt. But she also taught us how to handle ourselves. Mrs Mistry helped generations of awkward teenagers navigate their way towards becoming confident young women. Our half hour lessons with Mrs Mistry were like therapy, punctuated with all the powerful lady monologues we could have ever needed.
Mrs Mistry oozed glamour. She always looked immaculate, she wrote long letters with a fountain pen, and she spoke beautifully.
When, aged 17, I got a (small) role in a (terrible) am-dram production in Chester, Mrs Mistry was there on my opening night. Not only that, but she sent flowers to my "dressing room" Only, it was more of a dressing corridor shared by the entire cast. But that was Mrs Mistry: She found glamour in the least glamorous situations and she made all of our lives richer for it. For every story like mine, there are tens more. She somehow managed to find time for all of us.
One of her favourite poems was "Remember" by Christina Rossetti, which is about letting go of those who leave us. It ends:
"Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad."
Mrs Mistry, I promise that we will never forget you.