A woman who found her true vocation in the classroom helping her students has died at the age of 61.

Stephanie Kitchin taught maths at Senacre School in Maidstone from 1977 until the late 1990s, when she joined the county advisory staff to share best practice methods.

Mrs Kitchin, a mother of two grown-up sons, who died at home in Maidstone on January 5 after a long illness, was described by former colleagues as endlessly patient with pupils.

Former colleague Chris Roberts said: “From the start it was clear that she was an unusually gifted teacher whether it was in her endless patience with children who found mathematics difficult or in her firm encouragement of the brightest to realise their potential. There will be no shortage of former pupils who will remember her with great affection and gratitude.

Outside the classroom, Mrs Kitchin played both bridge and golf at county level and was County Golf Champion in 1984 and played in the Ladies British Open for three successive years between 1979 and 1981.

In later life, she also developed an interest in horticulture and she opened her garden to the public under the National Garden Scheme, as well as learning new skills including plumbing, bricklaying and woodwork.

“She could do a broadsheet crossword in a few minutes, solve a Rubik’s cube in less than a minute, do three Sudokus before breakfast and still have time to share laughter or serious discussion with family and friends,” said another former colleague, Angela Legood.

Her funeral will take place on Tuesday, January 27, at 12.30pm at Vinters Park Crematorium. Former pupils are welcome to attend.