Obituary: Julia Wade, languages teacher who helped forge twinning links

Published on 30/06/2012 00:00

TRIBUTES have been paid to the late Julia Wade of Linlithgow. A member of Linlithgow Town Council in the 1960s and 70s, and past Burgh treasurer, Julia died at home on 13 June aged 93.

After being educated at Linlithgow Academy and then the Edinburgh Ladies’ College (now the Mary Erskine School), Julia entered Edinburgh University to embark on an MA (Hons) French and German).

She spent 1938-9 in Nantes and Zurich and left the Swiss city on the last train through Basle before the border was closed, just before the start of the Second World War.

A golf player from an early age, Julia gained her Blue for the sport while at university and in 1947 she joined Turnhouse Golf Club where she was seven times club champion. Later she captained Glenbervie Ladies.

Julia married RAF Flight Lieutenant Christopher Wade in 1944 and the following year became assistant teacher in French and German at Bo’ness Academy. In 1947 – the year her younger sister Jenny drowned in Lake Zurich – she was appointed principal teacher and remained at the Academy until 1959 when she moved to Falkirk High. She later became assistant rector, retiring in 1979.

Julia, who divorced in 1951, lived in Fairway, off Falkirk Road, for over 20 years until her death. She was one of the first two women elders at St Michael’s Church, where her funeral was held, as well as founder secretary of Linlithgow Arts Guild, then its secretary, chairwoman and latterly honorary president.

Julia helped to found the Civic Trust and was key in establishing the Twinning Association of Linlithgow and Guyancourt.

Former maths and history teacher Tam Dalyell said: “As her colleague at Bo’ness Academy I know at firsthand how many pupils were able to get entrance to university through the expert teaching of Julia Wade. Subsequently she became the much-respected lady adviser at Falkirk High School.”

Bill Braid of Bo’ness and wife Nan were former pupils of Julia’s, and later good friends. He said: “While she could be a bit of a disciplinarian she was an excellent teacher and I owe my love of languages to her. Under a prickly surface there was a very kind and helpful lady, provided you were willing to try.”

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