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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE – Elizabeth Pescops, retired headteacher, was surprised by Michael Aspel while receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from Professor Lord Winston during the National Teaching Awards at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

After training at a teacher training college in the late 1950s, Elizabeth began her career in 1960, teaching A-level geography and maths at a comprehensive school in Notting Hill in London. In 1987 she joined St Paul's Primary School in Portsmouth as a maths teacher, and within a few months, she had been promoted to headteacher after the untimely death of the previous head.

Under her headship, St Paul's, which is in one of the most deprived areas of Portsmouth, increased its intake from 160 to more than 400, rose to the top of the league tables, quadrupled its extra-curricular activities and became the jewel in the Local Education Authority's crown.

"I'm dreaming this!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 1114
• Subject No: 1090
• Broadcast date: Thu 27 Feb 2003
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Sun 27 Oct 2002 11.30pm
• Venue: Teddington Studios
• Series: 43
• Edition: 9
• Code name: Pet

on the guest list...

• Lionel - husband
• John - son
• Tina - John's partner
• Mary - mother
• John - father
• Michael Collins - cousin
• Sheila Collins
• Andrew - son
• Dalia - Andrew's partner
• Ruth Carty
• Cecilia Almond
• Darryl Powell
• Liam Horsted
• Celia Murphy
• Marilyn Grey
• Mary Horsted
• Doreen Lucas
• Alison Brown
• Fiona Allsopp
• Michael Morpurgo
• Andrew Galvin
• Mark Johnston
• Deirdre Johnston
• Geoff Grey
• Jade Horsted
• Marie Galvin
• Liam Galvin
• Myra Brennan
Filmed tributes:
• Lord David Puttnam
• Harry Redknapp

production team...

• Researchers: Carrie Rose, Alex Renton
• Writer: Joe Steeples
• Director: John Gorman
• Associate Producer: Helen Gordon-Smith
• Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
• Producer: Sue Green

Jack of all Trades

from domestic cleaner to teacher

Screenshots of Elizabeth Pescops This Is Your Life