FORMER?King Henry VIII teacher and well respected St Mary’s Church guide Miss Pauline Sheen has died at the age of 100.

Miss Sheen, who last year celebrated her landmark birthday at Rozelle Nursing Home with a special party for staff, fellow residents and well-wishers, was an only child, was brought up on a farm in the Newport area where her parents at one time took in German prisoners of war.

She attended grammar school and read geography at London University before landing a research job in Denmark.

She went on to teach geography at a school in the Lake District and then at King Henry VIII School in Abergavenny.

She developed a keen interest in the history of St Mary’s Church and enjoyed sharing her encyclopaedic knowledge of the site with visitors.

Among the many ‘special deliveries’ on her 100th birthday were cards from the Queen and from Wales’ First Minister Carwyn Jones.

Guests who called in to wisher her many happy returns included the Mayor Councillor Maureen Powell and the Vicar of Abergavenny Canon Mark Soady.

• Miss Sheen celebrating her landmark birthday at Rozelle Nursing Home