THE new deputy head at Chester’s Queen’s School was born just yards away from her new office.

A true Cestrian, Irene Jones came into this world within the city walls at the Chester Infirmary, which was next door to the Queen’s School building.

She was brought up in Broughton and went to St David’s High School in Saltney. She moved further north to study music and English at Leeds University before joining the teaching profession.

It was as a young 14-year-old musician of Clwyd Youth Orchestra that Irene met future husband Ian. From there she joined the North Wales Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales.

Irene still plays the oboe with Wrexham Symphony Orchestra which gives her the opportunity to catch up with some of her former youth orchestra friends.

Mother-of-two Irene joined The Queen’s School in 2002 as head of music from Morley High School in Leeds where she was head of the creative and expressive arts faculty. Since then she has been involved with a number of school productions including musicals Guys and Dolls, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Torchbearers, along with many school concerts, cabarets and cathedral services.

She said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to support Catherine Buckley in the management of this first class school.

“I love teaching here – the girls and staff are creative, exciting and fun.”

Headmistress Catherine Buckley added: “Mrs Jones has been an innovative and dynamic head of music and she will undoubtedly bring these same qualities to her new role as deputy head.”

Irene lives in Chester with her husband Ian and children Isobel, nine and Edward, seven.