Tributes for award winning Burnley teacher who inspired generations of pupils to achieve their sporting best

Mrs Joyce Wellock grew up in the Pike Hill area and attended Todmorden Road Primary and Burnley High schools, where she excelled in all sports, winning awards in athletics, netball and hockey, and becoming school games' captain.

She also played football for Burnley Ladies in the 1960s in the days when few women played organised football.

Mrs Wellock trained to be a teacher, first at the former Walverden Secondary Modern and then the former Walton High schools, both in Nelson, where she was head of games. In later years she taught at St James’s School, Briercliffe, near her then-home in Harle Syke.

A keen football fan, Joyce was a massive Burnley fan and had a season ticket in the James Hargreaves lower stand. She watched her first Burnley game in the first division title-winning season in 1959.

Mrs Wellock, met her future husband, Brian Wellock, while they were both teaching at Walverden.

Later an Art, English and Drama teacher at Edge End High School, Nelson, Mr Wellock, who died in 2006, was well known as an actor and director in amateur dramatics, supported by his wife, who filled behind-the-scenes roles at St James’s Players, Briercliffe.

Their daughter, Mrs Liz Rowell, followed her father on to the stage, and has had many leading roles over the years.

Mrs Wellock’s brother, John Walton, said: “The tributes to Joyce the family have received have been amazing.

“Sport was her big interest, both playing it, supporting Burnley and watching games on TV.

"Joyce and Brian had a wide circle of friends, and they were the perfect couple. His sudden death hit her hard, and unfortunately she struggled with depression and anxiety over the years.

“However she was a very brave lady and always tried to get on with life as best she could.”

The funeral will be held on Thursday, February 11th, at 10.45 at Burnley Crematorium.