Mrs Mary Halsey 1927-2023  (Mathematics Department, 1974 - 1992) has died at the age of ninety-six.

Hilda Mary Biggerstaff was born in Cublington in rural Buckinghamshire in 1927 and attended Aylesbury Grammar School and University College London where she read Mathematics. She taught first at Harrow Weald School and then as Head of Mathematics at Queenswood School.

On marrying Philip Halsey, she moved first to Ewell, Surrey and then to Radlett, Hertfordshire where she lived for sixty years, worshipping at Christ Church, Radlett and running the local branch of the Mothers' Union. Her two sons, John and David attended Haberdashers' Boys' School in the 1960s and 1970s.

Mary taught at Haberdashers' Girls' School from 1974 until her retirement in 1992.

It is above all her love of Mathematics for which Mary will be remembered by her former students. Her interest in Algebra, Fibonacci, Escher and mathematical links with the natural world was apparent to all and could be seen on the Open Day displays which she enjoyed producing. Mary expected the girls to catch and share her enthusiasm and to appreciate the beauty, power and elegance of Mathematics. Many girls will no doubt remember the effective body language which helped her to illustrate mathematical relationships, the vacation puzzle sheets and the two windows that were open all the year round to ensure the right atmosphere conducive to work.

Mary died peacefully on 6 October at Elton House care home, Bushey, where she had been living for the last two of her ninety-six years. A Thanksgiving service for Mary’s life will be held on Friday 20th October at 3.30pm at Christ Church, Watling Street, Radlett, WD7 7JJ.