With her uncanny ability to connect with her students and determination to make teaching fun, Hilary Lightbourne was the “kid whisperer”.

Mrs Lightbourne, who died earlier this month, is being fondly remembered for more than three decades as a popular educator at West End Primary School and Paget Primary.

Her daughter, Jessica Lightbourne, told The Royal Gazette: “She was every child’s favourite teacher and the parents loved her. Her calling was to be an educator. I used to call her the ‘kid whisperer’ because she always found a way to connect with them even if they were shy and introverted. If they were having a bad day, she wouldn’t push them too hard but if they needed a kick in the butt she would definitely give them that too!

“She just knew what they needed in the moment.”

Born and raised in the south of England, Hilary Lightbourne came to Bermuda in her early 20s and began working at West End Primary, where she remained for 27 years.

“After work the teachers would all stop at one of their houses and have a drink and talk about their day,” said the daughter.

“They called themselves the ‘pit stop crew’. It was a tight community school with excellent teachers. She was really sad to leave when she was transferred to Paget Primary, but then she made that her home as well. She created friendships wherever she went.”

Ms Lightbourne taught P5 children — an age group her daughter said she loved.

“They are still kids but it’s right before they start to grow up and learn more, which is what makes it more fun. She brought fun into the classroom. She would take them on fun field trips,” said the daughter.

On one trip to St George’s the teacher went the extra mile to put a smile on the children’s faces.

“She hated going swimming and hated water on her face but, for these kids, she went into the ducking stool,” laughed Ms Lightbourne.

“For her children she would do anything.”

Reacting on social media this week, former students have praised Ms Lightbourne, with posts on Instagram describing her as “unforgettable”, “gentle” and “an inspiration”.

During her university days, Ms Lightbourne was active in anti-apartheid movements; later she was a member of the group that founded the Women’s Resource Centre in Bermuda.

She also had a passion for music, teaching piano lessons from her home for nearly 20 years to youngsters from aged four up to university age, sometimes without charging a fee.

One mother, Wendie Warren, told The Royal Gazette: “She gave my three kids piano lessons for free for a full year when I could not afford it.”

Ms Lightbourne was initially diagnosed with cancer in 2002 but, according to family members, vowed to live every day to the full, travelling to exotic places with her friends. She died on June 12, leaving her two children Jessica and Jonathan, and three grandchildren.

Jessica Lightbourne said she had been moved by the response to her mother’s death.

“I think more than ever I now realise how much she touched so many people here, and how so many people felt specifically that they had a special relationship with her,” she said.

“I thought that was extraordinary — how many lives she’s touched.”