Deaf News: NDCS pays tribute to Teacher of the Deaf from Lincoln

The National Deaf Children’s Society has thanked the family of a former teacher who dedicated her lifetime’s work to helping deaf children from across the East Midlands.

Hundreds of deaf children from Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire learnt from Mrs Julia Baynham, who for 20 years taught in the deaf unit at the old Ermine Infant School in Lincoln’s Thoresway Drive.

Mrs Baynham, who died recently aged 77, was a keen fundraiser for The National Deaf Children’s Society. She passionately fought the corner for local deaf children, securing their inclusion in mainstream schools.

Commenting on Julia’s dedication to deaf children, Jamie McMahon, Regional Director at The National Deaf Children’s Society said:

“We’d love to thank Mrs Baynham’s family for the amazing work she did for deaf children and for the charity. She has made a huge difference to the futures of many deaf children having taught several to speak and lip read. She’s a truly remarkable woman who’ll be widely missed.”

Inspired by Helen Keller, the deaf-blind American author and political activist, Julia lived at Heighington, and later in Lincoln’s centre and taught three to seven year olds at the school between 1975 and 1995.

Ermine Infant School Deputy Head, Bette Larder, said: “Julia had so much to give, and without her, the children she taught would not have been able to achieve and go on to do what they did.”

Anne Kent, a former colleague said: “Julia had style and her inspiration made learning interesting and an adventure and, most of all, fun.”

Former pupils, friends and colleagues are invited to a Thanksgiving Service at 2.30pm on Monday 22nd February at Lincoln Cathedral. Donations will go to the National Deaf Children’s Society and to the Alzheimer’s Society.