Isabelle Spencer was born in Plymouth on 12 May 1924. She described herself as a “convent girl”, and went on to take a London degree in Exeter. She took up her first and only teaching post at Witney Grammar School (now Henry Box School) in 1946, teaching English, History and Geography. She then ran the Art Department for about ten years before returning to teach English, eventually becoming Deputy Head before taking early retirement in 1981.
She had learnt calligraphy some thirty years earlier, and decided to take a refresher course at Dillington Adult Education Centre in Somerset. She went on to found Dillington Scribes, and tutored there for many years. She also taught at Denman WI College and at West Oxfordshire College in Witney. A calligraphy exhibition at WestOxArts in Bampton in 1984 led to the formation of Oxford Scribes, along with fellow calligraphers Pat Russell and David Nicholls. There were originally about 30 members, but by 1994 there were 150, mostly local, but some in India, Australia and the USA, and in other parts of the UK. Isabelle was a driving force in the society, editing and contributing articles to an excellent and informative newsletter for many years. The society held workshops and exhibitions, and undertook various commissions, including the production by members of all 154 Shakespeare sonnets.
A smaller group, Windrush Scribes, was formed in Witney, and Isabelle also ran a small group in Swinbrook Village Hall. She was a talented artist and embroiderer, and often incorporated these skills into her workshops. Her energy and enthusiasm were boundless – she led painting holidays in Devon and Madeira and was generous in sharing her knowledge and expertise with her students. Her annual calendars were legendary – stylish calligraphy enhanced by beautiful botanical drawings, a different theme for each month.
Art and calligraphy were not her only talents.For many years, she was involved with Witney Dramatic Society, which she helped to found, writing and producing plays and pantomimes and designing costumes.scenery, posters and programmes.
Isabelle became unwell in summer 2011, but determined to keep going and supervised the hanging of a calligraphy exhibition in Bampton in August. Shortly after this she was admitted to hospital, where she remained – still writing notes for the Oxford Scribes newsletter, and generally keeping pace with events – until her death there on 8 September aged 87. She was a prominent personality in Witney, and has left a lasting legacy through her art and calligraphy, and the inspiration to her many students. As a tribute to this, a road on the new Windrush Place estate leading to the primary school has been named Isabelle Spencer Way in her honour.
By Christine, Witney and District Museum Volunteer