Tributes have been paid to a much-loved former teacher described as having a 'magical gift' with children who has died at the age of 66.

Elizabeth Field, who was known to her pupils as Miss Sinclair, died peacefully at home in Gorleston on February 19 surrounded by her family, after battling ovarian cancer.

The grandmother-of-seven, who specialised in PE but also taught geography and art, inspired scores of children during her teaching career at Cliff Park High School and later at St Edmunds RC School and Oriel High School, where she taught part time.

Her daughter Samantha, 39, said: 'She was one of those rare people who had a real magical gift with children.

'She'd always make our children giggle just with the silliest things. She was always down on their level tumbling around with them. The thing that made her happiest in life was playing with her grandchildren.'

Born in Clarence Road, Gorleston at the Cranbrook guesthouse owned by her mother Joyce, Mrs Field was educated at Stradbroke Road school and Great Yarmouth High School for Girls where she played hockey at county level and also represented Norfolk in the hurdles.

She attended Lady Mabel College of Education at Wentworth House in Rotherham, graduating in 1969, and started her teaching career at Cliff Park in her early 20s. As well as teaching she was involved in after school clubs, including badminton and netball.

Samantha said it was 'amazing' when out with her mum how often she would be stopped by former pupils.

'The oncologist nurse who looked after her at the Paget was one of her pupils, quite a few of the nurses were taught by mum and they said to me 'she was one of our favourite teachers,'' Samantha added.

'Mum did lots of after school clubs and took kids off to competitions, she was very inspiring and a very motivating person to be around and people remember that.'

In 1972 she married her husband John, owner of John Field Formal Hire on Bells Road, Gorleston. After leaving the classroom she joined the family business and helped John change its direction from menswear retail to men's formal wear.

She was instrumental in overseeing the introduction of a radical new, modern look to wedding wear and used her artistic flair to create stunning window displays, which the Bells Road shop was renowned for.

The business expanded rapidly, with branches in Norwich, King's Lynn, Swaffham and Boston, Lincolnshire and in 2000 the retail side of the business was dropped to focus solely on formal hire.

In 2012 the Bells Road shop was sold and the business centred on the Norwich branch, until the couple eased into retirement.

During a trip to visit Samantha in Singapore in May 2014 Mrs Field became unwell and a check-up revealed fluid in the lungs. She returned to the UK within 48 hours where she was then diagnosed with stage-4 ovarian cancer.

She went through a major operation, chemotherapy and alternative therapies but unfortunately did not respond to treatment and gradually became weaker.

She did not once complain and was thankfully free from pain and kept positive by regular visits from her grandchildren; Isabella, Evelyn, twins Jessica and George, Jack, Luca and Arya.

She found the strength to be present at the birth of baby Arya on Christmas Eve 2014 with Samantha at the James Paget Hospital and called the experience the 'delight of her life'.

She is survived by John, 70, Samantha and sons Tim, 36, and James, 35.

A private family committal is being held at Gorleston Crematorium followed by a celebration of her life at St Andrew's Church at 10.30am on Friday, March 6. All are welcome and the family has requested those who attend wear a splash of colour.

Rather than flowers donations can be made c/o Arthur Jary and Sons as the family hope to provide children's swings on Gorleston clifftop, near the pirate ship play area. All seven grandchildren love swings when visiting but there are none in the immediate area.