TRIBUTES have been paid to a former headteacher who dedicated her life to campaigning for education and the NHS right up until her death.

Ena Abrahams, of Morgan Avenue in Walthamstow, spearheaded the successful fight to save the Connaught Day Hospital for the elderly in Whipps Cross Hospital after it came under threat of closure last year.

It was the most recent in a series of campaigning efforts throughout her life to improve the quality of life for young and old alike.

Ms Abrahams, who passed away aged in her late 80s after an illness, worked as a teacher, headteacher, inspector and teacher trainer, and remained an active part of community life when she retired.

Peter Jeffrey, 75, first met her over 50 years ago when they both worked in education. They were later reunited as members of the Whipps Cross Hospital Patient Panel.

He said: "She will be greatly missed not just on a personal level by all those who knew her but for the difference she made through her campagining.

"There wasn't an issue which she wasn't concerned with, but her main passion was for education and health.

"Right up until the end she was still campaigning. When she went into hospital she noticed her ward, which was elderly people, didn't have hand rails in the showers.

"By the time she was discharged they did."

Fellow health campaigner Jim Fagan, of the Keep Our NHS Public group, said: "She was a life-long socialist and union stalwart, she was always working to make things better for people.

"She initiated the campaign to save Connaught and won through her sheer determination.

"She was an inspiration to me and so many other people."

Neighbour and mum-of-two Jo Sealy, 49, said: "She was a huge source of support and information and passionate about education - she aided important decisions we made about our children's schools.

"She embraced all new experiences and was as sharp as a pin. I feel really honoured to have known her."

After retiring, aged in her 70s, Ms Abrahams studied sociology for a masters degree and got a distinction grade.

Other campaigning triumphs included successfully lobbying Whipps Cross to ensure it maintained 24 hours A&E paediatric care.

Her efforts protesting for Connaught to stay open were soon picked up by the national media.

She was nominated as one of the 100 'Unseen Powerful Women' who have helped change the world by Evening Standard journalist Rosamund Urwin.

She also featured on the Indpendent on Sunday's 'Happy List' of 100 people who had made the UK a better place to live in 2012.

Her funeral is due to be held on Wednesday (December 12).