Floods of tributes to "extraordinary" teacher and social justice campaigner

Tuesday 19 December 2023

Heartfelt tributes have been paid to an “extraordinary” and “kindhearted” Jersey teacher known for her “cheeky smile” and avid social justice campaigner ahead of her funeral tomorrow.

Pat Lucas died aged 78 on Monday 4 December.

While in recent years she served as a supply teacher, her teaching experience actually dates all the way back to when she was around 13 years old.

"She was filled with genuine care and concern for others"

"Whenever a member of staff was absent in local schools, secondary students were asked to support wherever they could. Students were expected to take primary school classes, teach, keep discipline and catch up with any of our their work," Victoria College explained in a tribute post.

"Ms Lucas excelled and was often asked to teach a class on her own. She found the pupils and the work thoroughly enjoyable.

"Having studied Philosophy in France – all in French – it wasn't until her early 30s that Pat went on to study Theology, Philosophy and French at Southampton University and qualified as a teacher. This is what eventually led her back to Jersey and to Victoria College."

The school added: "Talk to students and staff about Ms Lucas and we see a pattern emerge. One of kindness, warmth, empathy and good common sense. Her philosophical attitude to life was always so refreshing and she was filled with genuine care and concern for others, as well as a sense of social justice - she would often talk about how inequalities in the world have created problems and how the simple solution was for everyone to be just a little bit kinder. This was Pat."

"To make a difference was at the heart of all she did"

She also served as a supply teacher at Haute Vallée, whose team fondly remembered her as "an extraordinary teacher and one of the most kind hearted individuals you could ever meet".

"She was still doing supply work in recent years, to fulfil her own desire to serve students and be the best she could be for them. To make a difference was at the heart of all she did. During covid, she was keen to support students through the testing times.

"You could often hear Ms Lucas suggesting that we all just needed to be a little bit kinder to each other, and this was an ethos she lived by."

"We don't want the island totally ruined"

Outside of teaching, Ms Lucas was also an avid tax and social justice campaigner, and was particularly active during the 2000s.

Speaking out against the island's tax policy, she told the Guardian in 2004: "We don't need to prostitute our island. Some people think if we don't have the tax haven we'll go down a black hole - rubbish, we're going down a black hole because of it.

"When the tax haven goes - as it certainly will - we don't want the island totally ruined. I hope it's going to be an island again rather than a tax shelter."

A legacy to be "proud" of

Both schools' tributes yesterday attracted scores of comments, well wishes and fond memories from students past and present, friends, colleagues, and those touched by her political activism – including serving politician and Reform Jersey leader Deputy Sam Mézec, who met Ms Lucas when he was 21 at an event where social justice campaigners were speaking.

"She made the effort to be as warm and welcoming as possible to the young people attending and encouraged us to get involved and have our voices heard, even though she'd never met us before," he recalled.

"As I got to learn over time, this was typical of Pat. She was passionate about social and economic justice and indefatigable in supporting others when they sought to try to push Jersey in that direction.

"She was also so supportive of Reform Jersey when we first founded, and volunteered some space to us to help sort our campaign materials. We were so grateful for this."

Deputy Mézec added that her friends and family "ought to be proud of the legacy she leaves behind in those who were encouraged and inspired by her to join the movement against inequality and for social justice in Jersey."

Former politician and teacher Jennifer Bridge worked with Ms Lucas on supply at the former Les Chênes, then later at Victoria College. She recalled that Ms Lucas had a "wonderful ability to leave anyone she spoke to, even briefly, feeling a little lighter, a little happier", adding: "Social justice was as the forefront and she never shied away from engaging in conversations about it. She will be sadly missed."

Louise Cohu, who worked with Ms Lucas at Haute Vallée School around 20 years ago and more recently at Highlands College, lauded her the "fun, enjoyment and passion" she brought to lessons. Rob Allen, who worked with her at Hautlieu, recalled a "really lovely lady who clearly loved working with young people".

Others said Ms Lucas would be remembered for her "wicked sense of humour" and "cheeky smile".

Her funeral will be taking place tomorrow (Wednesday 20 December) at 10:00 at the Crematorium, attended by relatives and friends.

Donations, in Pat's memory, are being invited to be made to Jersey Hospice Care.