TRIBUTES have been paid to a former mayor of Hexham and long-serving teacher who died on Monday, just six weeks after her husband.

Ingrid Brook, who taught hundreds of students during her decades of service at Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School and represented the community as a councillor and volunteer in her retirement, died after a battle with cancer.

The 76-year-old was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, in September and had undergone two rounds of gruelling chemotherapy.

Her death comes just weeks after she lost her second husband, retired Merchant Navy master mariner, Captain Michael Brook (83) who died on March 31.

The couple married at Hexham Abbey in 2011 and Ingrid embraced family life, which included the extended family of Michael’s three sons, Trevor, the late Neil and Stewart.

Neil’s widow Janet Brook, who was with Ingrid when she died at home, said: “They were so happy and I know Ingrid loved to finally have the chance to talk to people about the eight grandchildren and one great grandson they both loved dearly.”

Born in East Germany, Ingrid was brought up in Pirna, and attended the Pirna Grammar School in Leipzig before deciding to study medicine.

“She was in the penultimate year of her training to be a doctor when she met her first husband, John Whale, while on holiday,” explained Janet.

Ingrid took the decision to relocate to John’s native Hexham, where she hoped she’d be able to complete her education, but was left facing starting the whole process again under the British education system.

It was then she turned to teaching and studied at Newcastle University and the former Ponteland College of Education before taking up her post at Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School.

There she taught biology and German for around 25 years, and later became head of German in the languages department.

Her commitment to the role saw her initiate a school visit with Dietrich Bonhoeffer Gymnasium in Metzingen, South-West Germany, after getting to know a teacher from the school who was visiting Northumberland.

A successful exchange programme followed, from which the current town twinning agreement with Hexham was born.

Ingrid was a key member of the Hexham party in Metzingen when the twinning agreement was signed in 1990.

Queen Elizabeth High School’s Youth Theatre performed in Metzingen as part of celebrations and a visit to Hexham by Metzingen’s Youth Theatre group followed.

At the time, Metzingen was twinned with Noyon, in Northern France, and a successful three-way link between the towns continues today.

Di Harris, deputy headteacher at Queen Elizabeth High School, said: “She was known for heartfelt commitment to the success and well being of students. And also for her kindness to colleagues.

“Always 100 per cent committed to the students, she will be vividly and fondly remembered by many in Hexham.”

Following her retirement from teaching, Ingrid joined Hexham Town Council in May 1999, and served as the town’s mayor between 2003 and 2005.

She was also an active Tynedale district councillor in Hexham’s Priestpopple ward, and a Northumberland county councillor for Hexham East.

As a member of Hexham Community Partnership, she was also a key figure in the Hexham East Regeneration Project.

Grant Davey, leader of Northumberland County Council, expressed “great sadness” at the news.

“Ingrid spent 12 years as a county councillor, serving on numerous committees, as well being a Hexham town and Tynedale district councillor and was dedicated to helping and supporting the communities she represented.”

John, who worked at Hexham General Hospital, died in the late 1990s but Ingrid found happiness again after a chance meeting with Michael at a pub near Ponteland.

Mayor of Hexham, Coun. Trevor Cessford, described her as a “wonderful, warm and very funny lady.”

He added: “She was a wonderful friend and was dedicated to the town. She will be sadly missed.”

Janet paid tribute to the doctors, nurses and carers who helped support Ingrid through her illness.

“The care she received was second to none,” she said.

“I can’t thank everyone enough.”

Family from Germany, including Ingrid’s brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew, will be travelling to Hexham for her funeral at the Abbey on Thursday, May 26 at 1pm.