TRIBUTES have been paid to a “valiant sister” who had a “long and interesting life”.

Sister Pauline Protheroe, Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy (SSJA), Llantarnam Abbey, died on December 9, 2017 at the age of 96.

Sister Pauline was born in Risca, and attended St Mary’s School and St Joseph’s Convent School Stow Hill, Newport.

She entered the Sisters of St Joseph in 1940 and then went on to do a degree in Mathematics and Geography at Manchester University, before returning to Stow Hill to teach.

In 1951 the senior part of Stow Hill School moved to Tredegar Park and Sister Pauline moved there spending the next 23 years of her life in education there, a school she was said to have “loved dearly.”

Speaking about Sister Protheroe, Sister Breda Gainey and other sisters from the SSJA said: “We know from the tributes and connections of past pupils how rewarding and blessed those years were for her and for the pupils. “She saw education in a broad sense, and loved organising field trips and school outings at home and abroad. “Although Sister had begun her teaching career in Private Education, she worked and negotiated tirelessly with all the necessary agents to help in the provision of equality of opportunities for all – helping to be part of the transition from a Private School to a well known comprehensive in Newport.”

Sister Pauline’s health began to fail and in 2013 she moved to LLantarnam Abbey in Cwmbran for medical care.

Sister Breda said: “Many of you in Newport will have your own memories of Sr. Pauline – a woman of sincerity, compassion and humanity who in 1967 immersed herself into comprehensive education with vision, courage and wisdom.

“She met many new challenges in those early years of the Comprehensive system believing wholeheartedly in its principles that every young person deserved equality of opportunity.

“As the deputy head of the school for some years, Sister played a key role in the management and direction of the school.

“These years in St Joseph’s Medical Wing were blessed with good friends amongst the Sisters and staff - some of them past pupils.

“How she loved them all. They saw her as a wise and solid person who gave sound advice and caring support.”

Sister Pauline’s funeral took place on Saturday, December 16 at Llantarnam Abbey.