We are sad to report of the death of Old Palace alumnae, Beryl Smith née Kellas: 1953-1958.
Her son, Adrian Smith, writes: “It is with much sadness that I write to inform you of the death of my mother, Mrs Beryl Smith, previously known as Miss Beryl Kellas. She was 80 years old.
Beryl attended Old Palace School between 1953 and 1958, a time which was under the legendary leadership of Sister Fenella. I found an Old Palace Year Book of Spring 1954, where Mum/Beryl was listed in New Girls IIIA, along with one of her best friends for many years, Jennifer Bone.
Beryl was a Croydon girl from a local poor family and attended thanks to a scholarship.
She left when 16 years old and pursued a career in the Royal Bank of Scotland in London until 1963, when she married my father, Brian Smith (a Scot also working in London for the Royal Bank) and became a housewife and mother. We eventually settled in Rainham in Kent from 1967 onwards.
Beryl had two sons: Adrian (myself) in 1964 and Simon in 1969.
She was a passionate Crystal Palace fan all her life, having gone to her first game in 1948, and dragged us along from the 1960s onwards.
Her health was not good in recent years with heart and lung problems and she contracted a vicious form of myositis (muscle inflammation neurological condition) in February this year. She was admitted to hospital in Medway, Kent and, despite steroids and other medication, deteriorated further and died on Friday 25th March at 3am.
She enjoyed the periodic Alumnae newsletter received via my email and visited the School once or twice over the years. Many of her old photographs, including one of her at the Old Palace around 1957 next to her friend Jennifer, surrounded by all pupils, have made us smile”.
We send the family our sincerest condolences.