Published: Wednesday, 4th June, 2008 09:40
Tributes to brave Mrs Cleife
By Andrea Fraser and Colin Hutton
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LOVED: Mrs Cleife
TRIBUTES have been paid to a brave Bankie teacher who sadly lost her battle against a rare type of cancer last week.
Jan Cleife — who lived in the town all her life and worked at Clydebank High for more than 30 years — taught thousands of young Bankies.
And despite her serious illness, the determined English teacher was still taking classes at the school as recently as five weeks ago.
She sadly passed away last Tuesday.
Friends and family packed into Duntocher West Church on Saturday to pay their respects.
The popular teacher, a genuine “favourite” for many, touched countless people’s lives, and helped shape the minds of generations of school children.
Jan’s devoted husband, Terry, paid tribute to her courage.
He said: “When we knew about the cancer Jan set herself goals and one was to see the birth of her first grandchild, which she did in February.
“She hid how bad she was and we still thought we would have a good few years left.
“Initially, I thought that it was just the chemo that was making her not feel well — I hadn’t appreciated how it had progressed because she was always upbeat about it.
“But that’s what Jan was like, she would rather deal with everyone else than have people worrying about her.”
Jan was diagnosed with cancer of the bile duct last August — a rare type of cancer rarely seen in the Western world with only 600 cases diagnosed each year.
Terry, 56, said: “We were told first of all that it was localised and slow moving but after two bouts of chemotherapy — which didn’t work — it gradually got worse and became widespread.” Fondly looking back on their time together Terry, who lived with Jan in Duntocher, told how they met during a holiday in Italy 32 years ago.
He said: “We got married within a year and set up home in Clydebank where Jan lived her whole life.
“She loved teaching and helping out the kids and I think that all the pupils loved her as well because I always used to hear them saying that she was their favourite teacher.
“I’ve been totally overwhelmed by the amount of people who have passed on their condolences, which just shows how much she was liked and respected.”
He said that she will always been remembered for everything she has done and her willingness to help others.
Terry Lanagan, Education director at West Dunbartonshire Council, said: “Jan had been a much respected teacher of English at Clydebank High since 1977 and throughout that time has made many significant contributions to the wider life of the school.
“Jan was also a trade union activist and president of the West Dunbartonshire Local Association of the EIS.
“She was a feisty campaigner who was always ready to stand up for her beliefs.
“Personally, I will greatly miss her forthright contributions to the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee and to the various negotiating bodies on which she served.
“Jan will be sadly missed by all who knew her.
“My thoughts at this time are with her husband, Terry, her two sons and the other members of her family.”
Jan, who was 54, leaves behind her husband, Terry and two sons Gary, 20, and Gordon, 23.
Gary and his partner Katrina recently had a daughter, Hannah.
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