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Board of Education pays tribute to Helen McClenaghan

Friday June 5th 2020

The late Mrs Helen McClenaghan.

The Church of Ireland Board of Education (Northern Ireland) has paid tribute to Mrs Helen McClenaghan, who died on June 4 following a lifetime of service.

Bishop Ken Good, who worked closely with Mrs McClenaghan while chairing the Board of Education, said: “Helen McClenaghan’s contribution to education in Northern Ireland has been quite exceptional. Her influential work as Chief Executive of the Southern Education and Library Board was widely admired and respected. Both before and after her retirement, she was particularly generous to the Church of Ireland with her time and expertise, serving on diocesan and central Church boards of education and other committees.

“I greatly valued and appreciated her constructive wisdom, her clarity of mind, her spiritual perspective and her good-natured humour.  I extend my sympathy to Helen’s husband, Stephen, their daughter, Frances, and to her wider family circle.”

The Archbishop of Armagh and Chairman of the Board of Education, the Most Rev John McDowell, said: “With the death of Helen McClenaghan, the education sector and the Church of Ireland have lost a great critical friend and source of encouragement.

“Helen has been at the centre of education policy and practice for many years, and shared her enthusiasm and knowledge with a very characteristic directness and verve. I join with all those who knew and worked with Helen in offering my personal sympathies to those who are most sorely bereaved of her.”

Dr Peter Hamill, Secretary to the Board of Education, said: “Helen’s wisdom and knowledge of education in Northern Ireland was unsurpassed. She will be sadly missed by all members of the Board of Education. Her energy and drive to improve and enrich schools for young people was an inspiration to us all.”

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