A church near Petersfield is to host a memorial service for a spirited educator and keen golfer who dedicated her rich life to service, learning and family.

Ann Donnelly was destined for a career in teaching being the granddaughter of Bedales co-founder Oswald Powell and the great-granddaughter of Kate Harvey, a suffragist and early pioneer of progressive education.

But the Herne Farm resident wasn’t your average teacher, as she inspired generations of young women – including the daughters of Beatles’ producer Sir George Martin – at St Clotilde’s School in Lechdale.

Fluent in both French and German, she also spent nearly two decades teaching English in Nuremberg, fostering cultural understanding during the Cold War.

The daughter of renowned bookbinder Roger Powell OBE and his wife, Rita, was born Ann Powell in Eastbourne on Marc 21, 1929.

She grew up in Letchworth along with her twin sister Jill and older brother, David, with her formative years and Quaker ethos of St Christopher School instilling a lifelong love of nature, learning and independent thought.

Ann had spells as a flying milkmaid and nanny in Paris before training as a physiotherapist and serving in the British Army during the 1950s. She retrained as a teacher at Culham College Oxford in the 1970s with her career taking the future Herne Farm resident to Germany.

Ann married John Donnelly at Steep Church in 1958 and the pair remained devoted partners for nearly 50 years until her husband’s passing in 2007.

Ann Donnelly Steep Obituary
Ann with her dog, Bruno, who would often sit in her basket. (Ann Donnelly/Ann Saunders)

Their love of golf saw them compete together in Burford and throughout southern Germany, where Ann claimed numerous tournament victories.

They later became active members of Petersfield Golf Club with Ann returning to the game in her 90s following a break after her John’s death. She even organised the “Golden Golfers” charity tournament in 2020 at the ripe old age of 91.

“There was nothing that Ann couldn’t tackle, working hard at whatever she wanted to do,” said life PGC life member, Di Brooks.

“She helped with our juniors, and with her absolute magic and finesse around the greens, we could all learn something from her.”

Ann moved to The Hangers in 1997 and lived close to her father’s home in Froxfield independently well into her 90s.

She often delivered talks on her family’s remarkable legacy and contributed to preserving local history.

A gifted speaker and storyteller, Ann embraced life with vigour, never hesitating to voice her convictions. Technologically adept even in later years, she produced presentations, stayed engaged with the world, and remained close to her family through emails, messaging, and video calls.

She was admired for her intelligence, charm and generosity as an educator, while her legacy is one of strength, integrity, and an enduring zest for life.

Ann, who died on January 6 at the age of 95, is survived by her children, Helen and Iain, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Her memorial service will be held at Steep Church at 12.30pm on April 16 with refreshments to follow in the village hall.

(With assistance from Ann Saunders)