Headteacher who battled for school despite illness
TRIBUTES were paid this week to Cate Bull, former head of Abbeydale Grange School, who has died following a six-year battle with cancer. Cate, aged 59, was diagnosed with the disease in November 2004 – two months after taking over as head of Abbeydale Grange.
In a poignant twist of fate, she died just a week after councillors set the final seal on the school's closure.
Despite fighting cancer throughout her time in Sheffield, only two of her colleagues were aware that she was so seriously ill.
Tony, her husband of 37 years, said: "Cate felt it would undermine the strength of her position as head. And she needed her position to be as strong as possible because much of her time was spent fighting to make the school successful – and ultimately battling just to keep it open."
Although Cate lived with pain she kept it to herself, taking only one day off for treatment in more than four years at the school.
She fitted hospital appointments around her working life, often going to Weston Park for radiotherapy treatment in the mornings and returning to school in the afternoon.
The disease spread to her spine in 2007, causing mobility problems, and she finally retired in March 2009, knowing she could no longer fight for the school.
"If she had been well, there is no doubt she would have stayed at Abbeydale to fight against the closure of a school which she believed in so much," said Andy, the younger of her two sons.
"She was advised by several doctors that she should stop working and focus on fighting the cancer but the school meant the world to her.
"Doctors often say to people in my mum's situation that they should spend the time they have left getting on with the things they most want to do in life – but what my mum wanted to do most of all was make a success of Abbeydale Grange."
Director of children's services Dr Sonia Sharp said: "Cate did a great service for the city and she led the school well. She was so brave.
"Our hearts go out to her family."
Cate was born in Caterham, Surrey, and in a 30-year career was an English teacher in London, Bristol, Bath and Midsomer Norton before becoming a deputy head in Swindon and then accepting her first headship in Sheffield.
When Cate arrived Abbeydale Grange had pupils from 58 different countries, speaking 35 different languages.
She was determined to make the school a pleasant place for students to learn and grow and was especially proud of its media arts foundation status – a process through which she led the school in a bid to secure its future.
As head, Cate's office door was always open and children and staff were welcome to go in and discuss their problems.
As a result she built close relationships with many people, both in school and within the local community.
After retiring she returned to Bath where the rest of her family lived but continued to keep in touch with Abbeydale's fate through the newspapers and her former colleagues.
Although her illness got steadily worse, and she was forced to spend more time in hospital, she fulfilled a final ambition when she travelled to Japan last September for the marriage of her elder son, Jon.
Cate died on March 2, at home with her family. Her funeral will take place on Wednesday, March 17, at Haycombe Crematorium, Bath.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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