Claire Price

Dearest Claire
You have so often been in my thoughts, since I came to FHS, but especially during the last 13 months. Your passing will not dim the massive impact you have had on so many lives of students, colleagues and most importantly of your wonderful family. Your stoicism was only matched by your kindness, humour, compassion, quietly detailed determination and care for others, inspiring us to be better than we thought we could be. You were simply a wonderful role model, colleague, teacher, mother and wife. A Fearless Girl. A huge loss in our world, granting us a precious legacy to nurture. May you be at peace and may that peace remain with your precious family.

I am so sad to hear of Claire's passing. She was truly an amazing teacher and I was very lucky to have worked with her.

I will miss Claire's kindness and enthusiasm. She had a great sense of humour and a real passion for Science.

Sending my deepest condolences to her family. You are all in my prayers.

Rest in peace Claire.
Sending all my love.

I remember Claire so fondly from my time working at FHS; she was always warm and welcoming. I admired her quiet confidence and evident intellect. I used to teach some English lessons in one of the science labs after Claire, and each week she would stop for a chat and some kind words. Even at busy periods she gave the impression that she had all the time in the world to talk with colleagues and students, and I can see this reflected in so many of the messages below. When I was Sophia's Head of Year, Claire would sometimes discreetly tell me things that were happening in that year group. There was never any judgement about what I didn't know: only a desire to help the girls have the happiest possible time.

Sophia and family, I am so sorry for your devastating loss. I hope you can feel the outpouring of love that Claire's friends, colleagues and students feel towards her. May she rest in peace.

Claire was a truly extraordinary person. I was lucky enough to share a form group with her, and every day I was witness to her generosity, her conscientiousness, and her commitment to every student she taught. She wrote reports for her pupils with a care I don't think I have seen in any other colleague; she often said that as a scientist, this wasn't her forte - but, unusually for her, she was completely wrong. Not a line was formulaic or filling space, every word carefully considered. I remember too her infectious passion for the sciences. Her sheer enthusiasm launched so many new projects and experiences for everyone at the school. I never thought I'd be so fascinated by hydroponics, but I was when Claire explained it to me.
I also remember Claire's love for all her family. Her children were universes to her, distinct, important and wonderful. An incredible person, whose loss must be incredible, too. I can't wish her family more comfort and support.

I am so deeply sorry for your loss, I will have you all in my prayers and sending you strength and love at this most difficult time.
Claire was a true angel and a bright light of knowledge, positivity and kindness. I feel so honoured to have met her ever since the girls were in prep school together.
Claire was so truly exceptional, she was so encouraging and such a passionate supporter of women in STEM. As a fellow scientist, I am in awe of her passion and dedication. Claire, you left such a positive mark on so many people and you will dearly missed.
What an honour to have such an incredible mother and wife, let her strength and spirit guard you forever. I am sending you all my love and pray that you stay strong.

With all my warmest wishes,
Lora and the Dramitinos family.

Alys and I were deeply saddened to hear the news about Dr Price. She taught Alys Physics for 3 years from year 7 to year 9 and was a much loved and respected teacher. I have a very clear memory of her in year 8 after an online teacher's meeting, where she was so effusive about Alys' performance in physics that she offered to meet us both in person to give more feedback, having both discovered that we lived on either sides of Brook Green. And so it was, that in those post Covid-days, when we were again rediscovering the joy of human contact that Alys and I met Dr Price for a coffee outside the Bear's Cafe in Brook Green and talked 1st about Alys and then about her own career path and girls in science for an hour. I remember thinking how amazing it was for a teacher to be prepared to devote so much of her time to encouraging one, of what will have been many pupils, to continue with science and physics and being so upbeat and effusive in doing so. Alys never forgot it either and enjoyed her lessons (and the occasional dog walk with Sophia on Brook Green). We send Sophia and Dr Price's family our heartfelt condolences and hope they will be able - in time - to take joy in knowing what an exceptional teacher she was.

I was so sad to hear of Claire’s passing and wanted to send all of my love to Sophia and her family. Claire was such a wonderful colleague and I remember very clearly how welcome she made me feel when I joined FHS. She was one of the first people — in a sea of good people — to stop and have a really good conversation with me. And it was a deep and interesting conversation and I thought how lucky I was to have such a lovely and brilliantly intelligent colleague. She has been in my thoughts a lot of late, and I can’t say how sorry I was to receive the news. Here is a short poem, inspired by Claire:

To the edge of space
— An infinite reach
A balloon, let go
A love, released.
If kindness lives
Eternally,
Then kindly souls
Will always be.

Dear family of Dr Price,

We are all so very grateful for the encouragement, focus and positivity shared as a mentor to our daughters, both as teacher and form tutor, which will not be forgotten. Our deepest condolences.

The Poggio-Magnus Family

To Dr Price's lovely family,
We are sending you our deepest condolences and love at this sad time. Dr Price was Carlotta's and my favourite teacher. She was an excellent teacher and made Physics understandable and approachable and inspired Carlotta to love Physics and pursue it at university.
Carlotta always called Dr Price "her mother" in school, she was so encouraging, loving and comforting. Carlotta hugely enjoyed building a go-kart in club with Dr Price and was looking forward to assembling the next bigger one, which Dr Price had planned. She is hugely missed and her positive influence will always remain with us.
With love, Carlotta and Cornelia von Scheven

Dear family of Dr Price,
Claire was one of the kindest people I’ve ever met and I will be forever grateful to have known her. I’m so sorry for your loss.

I have tried to keep this a reasonable length, but I’ve never been a woman of few words, and there are endless praises to be sung about Dr Price.
Dr Price was a beacon of light at Francis Holland School.
In a sea of incredible teachers, I remember marvelling with my peers about how especially ‘cute’ she was. And that word ‘cute’ meant so many things.
For one she was endlessly passionate and driven to teach. She is the queen of displays, with her perfect handwriting (we joked in physics she should turn it into a font and sell it) and her eye for detail, she made so many labs and corridors into works of art.
Dr Price always had a plethora of incredible projects she was working on too; she literally sent a balloon into space!
I also remember her aquaponics project. When I asked a possibly ridiculous number of possibly ridiculous questions about it, she responded to my curiosity with an abundance of knowledge and enthusiasm. That pure and almost childlike wonder she had for physics is what made her so cute. (BEST STEM CHAMPION EVER.)
As well as all this, Dr Price is just one of those people who doesn’t have a malevolent bone in her body. She brought endless delight wherever she went. She was full of warmth and wholesomeness.
And of course I can’t fail to mention her incredible style, (we used to joke she was singlehandedly keeping ME+EM afloat). Her adorable scalloped shirts, bright sweater vest, trendy trousers, SO cute. It made me feel so giddy when she said she liked what I was wearing.
Her awe for all she enjoyed was so 'cute', in the sense it felt innocent, and uncorrupted. Really though, it’s the mark of true wisdom and maturity, to be able to continue to revel in the joyous, no matter the trials and tribulations life throws at you. When I think of the best kind of legacy, one I hope to leave behind, it’s one of joy. And that’s the one Dr Price is leaving behind.
In many ways my two years at Francis Holland School were difficult for me, but Dr Price really is a special person, and she transformed my experience. I always felt happy to see her. She appreciated my weirdness and curiosity and was personally invested in my success and future. That means a lot to me. Dr Price means a lot to me and always will.
I send my sincerest condolences to Dr Price’s family. If I was able to observe how incredible she was through just some aspects of her, I can only imagine how remarkable she must have been to others, in ways I didn't see, especially as a mother, as I always felt her nurturing presence.

I remember Dr Price incredibly fondly through the struggle that was GCSE physics, her lessons remained a bright spot in my timetable – not because I was any good at the subject (I certainly wasn’t), but because of the warmth, fun and encouragement that she brought to the lab. The classroom was a safe space where we were never afraid to make mistakes. And somehow, next to the inevitable 36% at the top of my end of topic tests, she found ways to write, in her beautiful handwriting, comments like ‘really good try’. She was always happy to dedicate her lunch breaks to going through things with us that we didn't understand. Although, some of us did not go on to become women in STEM, Dr Price made us feel like we could excel in anything we put our minds to. She was a truly lovely person, with the patience of a saint, and I am very fortunate to have been taught by her. Sending love to her family and friends at this time.

Dr Price was one of a kind.

Her dedication was an inspiration to us all - her passion for physics and engineering was completely unmatched. She poured her whole heart into every ground breaking project that she tackled at school, and it was because of her that every one of them was a success.

Her determination was evident in everything she did, including her mission to turn us all into the best women in STEM we could possibly be. No matter how much I despaired over my physics A Level, she never let me give up on myself. She was meticulous in everything she did and wrote pages of colour co-ordinated personal feedback on every single answer from our homework in her glorious, unmistakable handwriting. She was committed to doing anything to make our lives easier - she even wrote to Microsoft to complain that we couldn’t watch a YouTube video directly from a Teams page, wasting valuable seconds of our time! We knew no matter what the issue, Dr Price would be all over it. She was remarkable.

I am incredibly lucky to have had Dr Price, a woman with such an extraordinary list of achievements, as a teacher at such an important stage in my life. She always knew when we needed chocolate, or a Brian Cox documentary and she always laughed at my impressions of him, even though I’m sure she knew that they were terrible. She told us when we needed to work harder, she was there for us when we needed a good cry, she was effortlessly kind to us when we needed a boost and she was our biggest cheerleader, standing outside the gym to give us hugs at the end of our A Levels. She was everything to everyone all at once. I will miss her so much.

My heart goes out entirely to Sophia and her family as they navigate this devastating loss.

In Loving Memory of Dr. Claire Price 🕊️
Dr. Claire Price was an extraordinary teacher whose kindness and passion for physics inspired our daughter, Pippa, to pursue her dreams. She took the time to know Pippa as an individual and actively encouraged her to aspire to Imperial College, where Pippa now studies Material Science and Engineering. Our love and condolences go to Claire’s family. Her legacy and Balloon Projects along with the 4am wake up calls will always be cherished 🥰🤍

Dear Family of Dr. Price,
We are sending you our deepest condolences, prayers and love during this difficult time.
We first met when the girls were younger; then our daughters, Miranda and Violeta, had the privilege of having Claire as a physics teacher at FHS. She always supported and challenged them with her gentle and generous manner. Thank you for inspiring our girls. You will be missed.
The Monascal Family

Remembering in love on this day, Claire. I have so many memories of Claire. We loved talking about plants and gardens, and had a shared enthusiasm for nurturing and growing things. I, especially, though, enjoyed our spiritual conversations, talking about things of depth, seeking answers in the face of the mystery. A person of great thought, of respect, of dialogue, of conversation. I know you will be missed, Claire, in so many ways. However, so many of us will treasure you in our hearts all our days. You will be, forever, a polished corner of the temple. You and your whole family are in my prayers - rest eternal grant to her, O Lord.

My dearest Dr Price

It is heartbreaking to hear of this terrible news. You were such an inspiration to me growing up. I first met you when I was 14, you had just joined the school and was given the arduous task of teaching the rowdiest and most confused GCSE class. We were sure to test your patience on several occasions: India Holroyd asking ‘do you believe in astrology’ drove you crazy, followed by her accomplice, Saskia Lavelle questioning the existence of planets when ‘no one had ever been there’ caused sweat pearls to trickle down your face.

My physics years with you were some of the most rewarding and challenging. You were always sure to address confusion (of which there was plenty in UVI), tell me off when I had clearly found the answers to the homework online, and often brought us chocolate in our single period Thursday afternoon. In you I found the woman I want to be, a pillar of kindness at all times, and a shoulder to cry on when boyfriends became ex’s.

You had the best fashion sense of anyone in the staff room, pulling me aside on Monday mornings during form time to show me the latest acquired pieces from the weekend shopping trip. I still stand by the fact that you should have been the next ME&EM cover girl seeing as you owned the entire collection!

You will be missed so dearly, but I will remember everything you did for me. I will miss your hugs, your wisdom, and your warm smile.

All my love to you Sophia, and your wonderful, wonderful mum.

Heloise

Dr Price was truly unique in her kindness as a teacher. She had an incredible ability to spread her enthusiasm for science and get us excited for all her new science projects. I am so greatful for her support though all of Alevel physics and university applications, I can safely say I would not have been able to do it without all her patience and encouragement.
Sending my deepest condolences to all her friends and family.

Dr Price taught me Physics during some of my earlier years at FHS, and at some points during my A levels. She was an amazing teacher, confident yet calm and patient - and she brought out a confidence in me and my Physics that led me to continue it on into Year 12! However, she was so much more than her brilliant teaching skills , she was kind and understanding and made you feel heard and supported no matter what. I remember at the beginning of Year 13, I made the difficult decision to drop Physics A Level as a 4th Subject and continue with my other subjects. I loved physics during my whole time at school, often it was one of my favorite subjects - and so not taking it felt like a big change - I was scared of disappointing myself and other teachers who’d taught me for so long. But Dr Price was one of the first people I told when I was thinking about dropping Physics, I just felt comfortable opening up to her about the decision. She made you feel understood with no judgement, and I am so thankful for her and her teaching, but most all from the support you felt from her, for her kindness and gentleness, and for the person she was. You will be dearly missed, Dr Price - and I wish you all the peace and love there is in this universe.
My condolences and heart goes out to Sophia and the rest of her family. Sophia, I am so sorry for the loss of your mother, and all of my love goes out to you. You should be so proud of all your mother was and did - she was truly an amazing person. All my strength to you🫶💪

Dr Price has always been, and will forever be, one of the warmest and kindest teachers I ever had the privilege of encountering. Though she didn’t teach me for very long, her passion for science was evident from the start. She was always kind with her words and never failed to make the classroom feel like a place where I felt comfortable to ask questions, to complain about how hard I found physics (not to anyone’s surprise), to make mistakes and to be curious.

Sophia, by the end of my time at FHS, I had no doubt in my mind that you were someone I could call a good friend. I always knew I could find you somewhere at the end of the day for a quick chat, and I hope you felt the same. It was always clear to me that your warmth came from your wonderful mum. I hope you know I’m always here for you.
All my love to you Sophia, and your whole family.

Dr Price was one of the sweetest and most caring teachers I ever had. I think of her so often because she is the reason I went on to study engineering! She even told me what it was!! Then, she helped me all the way to university. Now that I’m here I always think “Dr Price would love what I’m doing” and “ I can’t wait to show Dr Price my dissertation”.
I’ve been reminiscing on all the precious memories that I, and the other girls of the class of 2022 have with Dr Price. From experiments that didn’t quite work to asking her about her latest outfit, she was happy to indulge all our whimsical conversations. She is, quite literally, the woman in STEM that I want to be. She was to us: a teacher always, a friend when we wanted one, and a mother when we need one.
I send every condolence to her friends and family. My prayers are with you all.

Dear family and friends of Dr Price,

I am so sorry to hear of her passing and send my sincere sympathy and love. Dr Price cared deeply about each of her students, and her kindness and encouragement has left a real impact on me. She was a brilliant teacher and mentor, and will be sorely missed.

With love, Caley xx

To Dr Price’s lovely family,
We are sending you our deepest condolences, love and prayers at this time.
Dr Price was a wonderful part of our time at Francis Holland. Not only as a fantastic teacher who inspired both of us, but as a motherly figure and a loving individual. We know her legacy will live on through her incredible children. With love, the Wharton sisters (Isabella and Grace) xxx

Dear family of Miss Claire, friends and colleagues

We were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Dr. Claire Price. Please accept our heartfelt condolences on behalf of our entire family.

Claire was an extraordinary teacher who inspired so many students. Our daughter, Chloe, was very fond of her and she will be greatly missed.

Our thoughts are with her family, colleagues, and the entire school community during this difficult time.

With deepest sympathy,
The Dandachi Family

When I was Head of Sixth Form, Claire came to me and said 'I have an idea. I want to do an Enrichment elective with the sixth form to send a balloon to the edge of space. I've already got the balloon so it should be doable'. I never doubted that she'd do it; and she never minded explaining the process to a science ignoramus like me. She had a wonderful manner that brought everyone along with her. She managed to persuade all sorts of people to come and speak to the girls, or help her with various projects. I had confidence that she would help me put on a Careers Fair based on science and sustainability - and she was the source of at least half of the programme. She was an inspiration and we were so lucky to have known her.
Caroline

When I found myself really in a rut and at a junction between staying in industry or moving into teaching, Clare was one of the first people that I spoke to. She had made a similar move from industry to Teaching and told me it was the best decision she had ever made. she spoke with huge enthusiasm and said it had given her so much joy and fulfilment. She gave me incredible advice and spoke with such passion. She really made me feel like it was achievable, and that whilst the path was not entirely straightforward, that by laying the foundations, I could also get there. She was generous with her time pragmatic with her advice and just completely helpful in every possible way. I wish I had had the opportunity to get to know her even more; She will be hugely missed. I was heartbroken to hear the news today and I’m sending her family my deepest condolences.

In loving memory of Dr Claire Price
Claire was exceptional. An exceptional teacher, an exceptional scientist, an exceptional form tutor and an exceptional colleague.
We only knew each other for two terms, and yet in that short time she made an extraordinary impact on me. As a fellow scientist, the way that she approached inspiring the next generation was inspirational. There was always another idea, another question, another angle to explore.
Claire will be so very missed by the girls and the FHS community. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and friends and know that her legacy will continue to shine through the many FHS lives that she inspired.

Alexandra Haydon