Obituary: Anne Muirhead Mathams, education and disability campaigner, 97

A woman who dedicated much of her life to bettering the lives and education of disabled children has died, aged 97.

Anne Muirhead Mathams was interested in education from an early age and went on to become a founding member of Capability Scotland.

She was born in 1913 to Robert and Annie Mathams. Her father died in 1924 as a result of injuries sustained during the First World War, leaving the little girl and her mother to bring up younger brother John.

It was while in attendance at St George's School in the Capital that her interest was sparked in child psychology and teaching aids.

In 1932 she started training as a teacher at Jersey Ladies College and gained the Frbel Higher Certificate Part One, continuing her studies in Edinburgh at Moray House.

It was during her training at various nurseries that she developed her interest in teaching physically handicapped children.

In 1935 Miss Mathams qualified as an infant mistress, working in Edinburgh primaries. A year later she was appointed headmistress of Stanwell Nursery, taking up the position in St Leonards Nursery in 1939 and Moray House Nursery in 1941.

During the Second World War she also looked after children evacuated to Newport on Tay.

In 1946 she attended the inaugural meeting of the Scottish Council for the Care of Spastics, now Capability Scotland, becoming a founding member.

Two years later it decided to establish a school where children with profound disabilities such as cerebal palsy could be treated as intelligent equals, and Miss Mathams was offered the position as headteacher of Westerlea School.

The students came from all over Scotland and Miss Mathams instilled an ethos that every child, however handicapped, deserved respect as an individual.

Although resources were scarce, the headmistress did her best to stimulate the children intellectually, and on one occasion chimpanzees, penguins and even an elephant were brought from nearby Edinburgh Zoo to meet the youngsters.

Miss Mathams also designed specialist equipment for the children in her care to help them read and communicate.

Gaining the respect of her peers for her work, she also carried out lectures and Westerlea was visited by educationalists from around the globe. In 1972 her the Educational Institute of Scotland awarded a Fellowship for her service to education, and she gained a life membership seven years later. In 2000 she received the first Elsie Inglis Award for a lifetime of achievement in her life, work and action.

She was a member of Mayfield Parish Church, where she also ran an art school.

Anne Mathams is survived by her nephew and niece.