Tributes to former KES English and drama teacher Pauline Brace who died, aged 95
PAULINE BRACE, a much-loved English and drama teacher at King Edward’s School in Stratford – and a resident of the town since 1965, has died aged 95.
She was born Pauline Smith in the Black Country in 1928 and grew up with some significant health issues and without a father from the age of nine, circumstances – she always said – that helped her “grab hold of life and not let go”.
She honed her teaching skills at schools in Birmingham and was an amateur actor at the Birmingham Rep, sharing the stage with – among others – Paul Eddington (The Good Life and Yes, Minister).
That ‘grab hold of life’ attitude drove her to take a huge opportunity (or risk!) in 1955 when she sailed to America for a 12-month teacher exchange. The experience began a deep transatlantic family friendship that is just as strong today – an example of Pauline’s ability to befriend and inspire everyone she met.
Her love of literature and theatre lasted throughout her life and saw her produce numerous plays at KES – everything from Medieval Mystery plays to Oliver!, Hamlet, The Tempest and The Taming of the Shrew set in the Wild West.
Her theatrical partner was former Director of Music at KES, Howard Bould, with whom she reunited just eight months ago (May 2023) to stage their last joint production, at the Guild Chapel in Stratford.
“Pauline was the Cecil B DeMille of KES productions, many of which had a cast of thousands,” Howard said. “She brought a love of literature and drama, as well as kindness and humanity.”
Pauline and her husband, Keith Brace, literary editor of the Birmingham Post, were regulars at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, where they made numerous friends, including the actors Dame Judi Dench, Richard Pasco, Barbara Leigh-Hunt and Sir Patrick Stewart.
Sir Patrick has fond memories of his son, Daniel, and Pauline and Keith’s son, Matthew, being school pupils together. “This was soon after I had joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and my then wife, Sheila, and our two children lived in Barford,” he said.
“Pauline was amusing and frank and our two families quickly became friends. We loved their company and there were dinners together, summer afternoon teas in the garden and, of course, many events at the RSC.
“Pauline enjoyed discussing with me the plays I was in and the roles I played. I enjoyed those conversations very much and at times she was bold enough to give me notes. I am so grateful to her and wish she was with us still.”
As well as inspiring thousands of pupils to dive into the delights of Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen and Eliot (T.S. and George), she devoted much time to the society dedicated to Scottish author Dorothy Dunnett, of whom she was a great admirer and personal friend.
When she retired to Snitterfield she joined the local WI and put on more plays and pantomimes. A former chairman of the Warwickshire Federation of Women’s Institutes, Jan Wade, said: “Pauline served as a trustee of the Warwickshire Federation, including as vice-chairman. Her skill in writing and producing WI entertainments gave so many people hours of pleasure.
She also used her extensive connections to obtain the services of well-known and influential speakers. Always elegant and unfailingly cheerful, Pauline was a good friend to many.”
During the last six months of her life Pauline was cared for with immense kindness by the wonderful staff at the Jubilee House care home in Leamington and visited daily by her devoted and indefatigable groups of friends and her son, Matthew.
