THE Royal School community is mourning the loss of inspirational former headteacher Diana Willis, who died in Bedford Hospital on February 21.

A memorial service was held on March 12, following her death aged 79 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Mrs Willis was unmarried when, as Miss Otter, she had the distinction of being the longest-serving headteacher in Royal School history. Her tenure was from 1970 to 1987.

Miss Otter was at the helm from 1970 to 1987, when it was when it was known as The Royal Naval School.

A former history graduate from the University of London with a diploma in education from the University of Oxford, she was a young appointee. Under her leadership, the school set out on a programme of modernisation and development.

Miss Otter reinstated the school magazine Victory, and re-organised the house system in such a way that each house was based in an individual building.

The sixth form house was modernised and the size of the sixth form increased.

Academic standards improved year on year and in 1975-76, a new business studies course was added to the sixth form curriculum.

The Royal Naval School Society was set up in 1976, as an association for parents, staff and pupils past and present. This was a precursor of The Royal School Association.

During Miss Otter’s headship, a new building housing a multi-purpose laboratory was opened by Prince Michael of Kent. This building was dedicated to the memory of Admiral of the Fleet Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who had been president of the school for ten years.

The Mountbatten building is still in use today.

Louise Stone MBE (née Stewart-Fitzroy) was head girl in 1980 and remembers Miss Otter was always very ambitious for her girls, encouraging them to aim high and succeed in all they did.

She also recalled the King Charles spaniels that lived on site with Miss Otter in what is now Clifton House, the principal’s residence.

Miss Otter left The Royal Naval School in 1987 to become headteacher of Bedford High School and subsequently married. She remained in contact with The Royal School.