We were very sad to hear that Penny passed away at the end of June. Penny was one of UKMT’s most dedicated volunteers, and her contribution to the Team Maths Challenge over more than two decades was remarkable.

After securing a first class honours maths degree at Nottingham she then spent a further year in Cambridge to complete her university years. She then secured a teaching post at Haberdashers’ Aske’s School, where she spent 13 years, before moving to Bancroft’s for the next 37 – an epic total of 50 years of teaching!

Penny wrote questions for many parts of the Team competitions, and most recently she took on the Relay Round, producing problems that were challenging, interesting and always at just the right level. Her meticulous eye for detail made her an outstanding checker too — if Penny had been through a round, everyone knew it was safe to print.

Alongside her TMC work, Penny contributed to many other areas of the Trust’s activity, including supporting at the International Mathematical Olympiad. Whatever she was involved in, she brought reliability, care and enthusiasm, and she became a good friend to me and to many other long‑standing volunteers.

Even during treatment — and, very poignantly, even in the final stages — Penny kept writing and checking, determined to finish the Relay Round for the upcoming TMC season. It was typical of her commitment and her love for helping young people enjoy mathematics.

Penny made a real and lasting difference to UKMT, and she will be missed enormously.

Steve Mulligan
Vice Chairman UKMT