In Memoriam Marion Morfett June 1953 – April 2025

Marion was born in June 1953 in Liverpool and passed away on 30 April 2025 on the Isle of Man. Her father worked for Customs and Excise in Crewe, moving the family to the Lutterworth area when he transferred to work in Leicester in 1969. She was educated at Crewe County Grammar School, then Lutterworth Grammar (then a new comprehensive) for the sixth form. Her mother died young, soon after the family moved and Marion kept house whilst studying for her A Levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. In 1971 she went to Trevelyan College at Durham University, where she met her future husband, Tony. She graduated in 1974 with first class honours then stayed on to do her PGCE, after which she joined the Mathematics Department at the Perse School for Girls in September 1975. She and Tony married in summer 1976 and lived first in St Neots, then Royston; Tony worked for British Aerospace in Stevenage.

Marion was a form teacher for U5 (Year 11) and was very well liked by her classes. She taught girls of the entire ability range and was able to support them all to achieve their potential, whether reading Maths at Oxford, or simply passing GCSE, such was her teaching skill.

Marion gave up her teaching post in March 1981 and their son Thomas was born that May. Michael followed in 1983. Marion returned to work in September 1987, the boys attended the local primary school then transferred to the Perse School for Boys for most of their schooling. Thomas subsequently went to Oxford to read Mathematics, became an accountant, actuary and recently CEO of an international company based on the Isle of Man. Michael read Veterinary Science at Cambridge and practises in Northern Ireland where he lives with his family, including Marion’s two grandchildren.

Marion retired early, in 2002, with Tony retiring in 2005. They moved to the Isle of Man permanently in 2005, having had a holiday home there for 3 years, and enjoyed 20 years together there before her recent illness and eventual death on 30 April this year from cancer.

In her retirement Marion became an expert lace maker and some of her pieces have been requested by the Manx Museum for their collections. She also became fluent in the Manx language and enjoyed walks in the countryside and around the coastal paths of the island. Her family have scattered her ashes by her favourite coastal path.

Sheila writes:

“Marion and I started teaching at Perse Girls in 1975. It was her first post and I think that she taught full time for 6 years before her son Thomas was born. She proved to be an outstanding and inspirational Maths teacher, for the whole range of abilities. She was also form teacher for an U5 form (as was I at that time) and was an excellent tutor. She always demanded the highest standards from her students and they responded by achieving outstanding grades.

Marion returned to the school part time after her son Michael was born and had started school. She left in 2002, for early retirement after an outstanding career. She and Tony moved from Royston to the Isle of Man soon afterwards. In her retirement on the island she learned to speak and write the Manx language fluently, belonged to the Lacemakers Guild (she has left some beautiful pieces of work) and was a keen walker with a local group.

When we visited in 2024 she was fit and well in the spring, but became ill subsequently and died on 30 April 2025. Marion was a good friend to me for 50 years; we shall miss her as will her family - Tony, Thomas, Michael and her two grandchildren Ella and Reuben.”