JENNIE Bridle, a former teacher at St Bartholmew’s School and well-loved member of the Haslemere Thespians, has died aged 68 after a sudden illness.

On moving to Haslemere in 1982, she taught at St Barts First school in Chestnut Avenue from 1985 to 1994 and then taught at St Barts Middle School. One ex-colleague described her as “simply lovely”.

Her long association with the Thespians began in 1982 when she made her debut in Agatha Christie’s A Murder Is Announced. She was a highly respected member and fellow actors remember her as “loads of fun to be with”. It was probably fitting her swansong was in 2000 as a director, bringing to life Frank Vickery’s hilarious comedy about rotten luck, Family Planning. It was during her time with the Thespians that she moved to Verity Cottage in Lower Street, with her long-term partner, Peter Rozario, telling everyone that she could now legitimately add the letters, VC to her name. In 2001, the couple moved to the Costa del Sol. Jennie leaves Peter, daughter Sacha, son Thomas and grandchildren Jacob, Felix, Amelia and Ruben.