A former Hull girl whose cherished memories of her early school years have helped shape her own successful career in nursery education has been recognised by King Charles.
Lucy Driver, 59, who grew up in Cottingham and was educated in the village and in Hull, was awarded the OBE for services to early years education. She said she felt “incredibly honoured, but mainly for my beautiful mum, who died on Christmas Eve”.
Lucy, who is based in Bristol and is executive headteacher at St Paul’s Nursery School and Children’s Centre there, said: “I’m in Hull at the moment, planning my gorgeous mum’s funeral.
“Fortunately she knew about my honour while we could still talk with her, she was thrilled for me. I drove straight up to the Hull Royal Infirmary to see her as soon as I heard the news.
“Mum, like so many women of her generation, never got to achieve the things she could have but instead motivated her children to do something they love, have a career and be independent. I’m so glad she got to hear my news.
“Getting an OBE was such a surprise and is an amazing privilege. I’m incredibly honoured to receive and accept it on behalf of all the inspiring early years educators, family support workers, and leaders I have had the privilege to work and learn with at St Paul’s Nursery School, within Bristol Early Years and beyond.”
Lucy said: “I grew up in the University of Hull halls of residence – The Lawns – because my dad Dennis was a lecturer there. When I was a little girl I went to a playgroup in the Kingston Rooms in Cottingham, and mum was a helper there.
“I went to Hallgate Primary and loved being creative and making stuff. My early school years were my happiest – I’m dyslexic and it wasn’t recognised like it is today.
“I went to Cottingham High – Mum was a librarian there – and didn’t do that well. Then I went to Hymers College for my sixth form and was one of the first girls there – and didn’t do that well there either.
“Even so I had super support from my mum and dad and my big sister and big brother. Mum always wanted me to be teacher – I didn’t find out until recently she got into teacher-training college before she had her babies, but didn’t go.
Lucy Driver, head teacher and national leader of education, pictured at St Paul’s Nursery School and Children’s Centre, St Pauls, Bristol, in 2013
(Image: Barbara Evripidou)
“She loved me doing my job and she loved little ones – I think little learners are the best, they are so joyful. Anyway, I’ve made my way leading in early years education in Oxford and Bristol, but always with my heart in Hull.
“My colleagues in the south-west joke that you can take the girl out of Hull, but not the Hull out of the girl. My three generations of family are still up here, and dear friends are, so I return regularly.
“In fact, over the years, I have worked in partnership with a Hull nursery school. The former headteacher of the McMillan Nursery School is a friend from my school days at Hymers and volunteered in one of my nursery provisions in his 20s.
“He went on to be a nursery teacher, and nursery school headteacher, in Hull, working in close collaboration with me for many years. Nursery schools are brilliant.”
Lucy sadly lost her brother, Jon Driver, acknowledged by his peers internationally as one of the most exceptional cognitive neuroscientists of his generation, in tragic circumstances in 2011. On his way home from work on his scooter, he was involved in a road accident and seriously injured. After two bouts of failed surgical intervention, Jon took his own life at the age of 49.
Lucy had just returned home from marking the anniversary of Jon’s death when she saw a letter that had arrived, thought it to be a bill, and ignored it. It was about being bestowed the OBE in the King’s New Year Honours.
“It came totally out the blue,” said Lucy, who is also lead at Bristol and Beyond Regional Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, and Early Years Consultant. “As it was, I only had one day to accept it, because it had been sitting on the stairs unopened.”
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