David BaleTributes have been paid to a former Norwich woman who founded many of the earliest nursery schools in the city - and has died aged 86David Bale

Tributes have been paid to a former Norwich woman who founded many of the earliest nursery schools in the city - and has died aged 86.

Ethel Brock, known as Jo Brock, owned private nursery schools in the Norwich area for more than 40 years.

Each school she opened she later sold and her work ensured that the city had real nursery schools, not just kindergartens, earlier than many other towns and cities in the country.

Her son Robert Brock said: 'I remember mum, when in Norwich, as someone who was packed with energy, building her businesses whilst looking after the family, nursing elderly aunts and hosting numerous foreign students throughout the holidays.'

The first nursery school she founded was at 184 Earlham Road, Norwich in 1958/59.

This was followed by West Lodge, Albemarle Road, Norwich in 1963/64, Riverbanks, behind The Old Mill in Stoke Holy Cross in 1970/71 and, finally, 553 Earlham Road, Norwich in 1997/98.

All were named after her birthplace of Stretton in Herefordshire, and the Albemarle Road nursery is still known as Stretton School today.

She was also a co-founder of Fiveways Caravan Park, Eccles Beach, between Happisburgh and Sea Palling, now known as Eccles Beach Caravan Park.

Mrs Brock moved to Norwich from Hereford when she married in July 1945.

She returned to Hereford in the early 1980s for nine years and then lived in Spain for another nine years.

She then came back to the UK and settled with her family in Andover, Hampshire in 2002.

Mrs Brock died in Winchester, Hampshire, on Saturday, June 12.

She was the husband of Roy and mother of Anthony, Robert and Lorraine.

The funeral service will be held at Basingstoke Crematorium, Manor Farm, Stockbridge Road, North Waltham, Basingstoke at 12.30pm on July 5.

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