Tributes have poured in for a former CedarBridge Academy teacher known as an “encourager” by those who met her.

Close friends of Janet LePage, 61, gathered at Elbow Beach on Monday night to celebrate her life after she passed away from cancer last week in Chichester, England.

Mrs LePage fell in love with the island from the moment she and her husband Peter flew to Bermuda in 1988, after he started working at Saltus Grammar School.

They lived in Bermuda for 26 years before deciding to return to England in 2014 to be closer to their family.

Upon arrival, Mrs LePage began hairdressing and was a wedding co-ordinator for Wed In Paradise, organising ceremonies on the island for couples across the world, particularly from North America and Britain.

According to friends, she was such a hands-on person, she decided to teach hairdressing and barbering courses at CedarBridge, as she had taught a similar course at Leyland College in Britain.

She was at the high school for 12 years and introduced the City and Guilds barbering course, which resulted in multiple students becoming hairdressers “because of their positive classroom experiences”.

Kalmar Richards, principal at CedarBridge, said: “Exceptionally loyal and dedicated to students and the school, Janet LePage was an outstanding teacher, exceptional adviser and an amazing educator. Students loved her. Janet arrived at work early each day and from time to time would stop and share with me stories about what she was doing with her students.

“Janet’s warm smile, pleasant manner and beautiful spirit uplifted many students and staff.

“The faculty and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the family. We have lost a champion teacher.”

A former student of Mrs LePage, Michaela Tucker, said: “Mrs LePage was one of my best friends, like a mother figure to me.

“This year is my tenth year being out of school and she was supposed to come back to celebrate. She connected with so many students on a personal level.”

Mrs LePage leaves behind her husband, son Russell, daughter-in-law Jenny and two grandchildren, Cosmo and Inigo, whom she loved “unconditionally”.

Her husband said: “I would like to thank all the people in Bermuda who have sent messages of support and condolences to myself and the rest of the family. I will be returning with my son Russell in September and will be hosting a small celebration to remember her time in Bermuda.

“I look forward to thanking them personally.”