A FORMER special needs teacher at a Huddersfield school has died.

Jem France was 71 when she died on Easter Sunday at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

She was the wife of Barry, mother of Mark and Michele and grandmother to Jordan, Conor and Calum.

Mrs France was well-known for her work at Spring Grove Junior and Infant Schools and was once an active member of the Labour Party in Huddersfield along with husband Barry.

Mrs France was born Alice Jemima Jones in the Rhondda Valley, south Wales, in October 1940.

She grew up in Birmingham and at the age of 15 she was diagnosed with a brain tumour and underwent experimental surgery which proved a success.

She met husband Barry in the city and remained together when Mr France was called up for National Service. They married and had son Mark. At the age of 21 while pregnant with Michele, the tumour returned and she had surgery throughout her pregnancy – with both Mrs France fighting the tumour and delivering a healthy daughter.

They moved to Huddersfield in 1985, living in Quarmby, and due to her caring nature, Mrs France initially worked in a care home.

In the mid-90s she was employed to set up a library at Spring Grove Junior Infant and Nursery School and her passion for working with children shone through.

She became a Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant at Spring Grove and took on extra work to enhance the children’s education.

She suffered a stroke in 2001, aged 60, but continued to volunteer at the school and would spend a few days a week helping the children she’d worked closely with finish their schooling.

Her husband Barry was the Labour Party chairman for Huddersfield and Mrs France gave him support throughout.

She was an active supporter of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Anti- Apartheid and attended anti-war rallies.

Despite suffering a stroke and putting some political activities to one side, she continued to fight for causes she was passionate about – her mobility scooter was folded up for her to attend an anti-war rally in London ahead of the Iraq war.

Mrs France’s humanist funeral is expected to be attended by politicians, former colleagues, parents of children she worked with and many friends and family members.

It will take place on at 2pm Friday at Huddersfield Crematorium followed by a wake at The Field Head pub, Quarmby Road, Quarmby.