Susan Snowdon

[2] Snowdon was a primary school teacher in Chilton and Ferryhill, County Durham.

In 1989, in order to advance her career and become a deputy head teacher, she underwent a medical.

This showed that her aortic valve "had completely perished" and she required immediate surgery to prevent her death by Christmas of that year.

The surgery, in which a metal valve was successfully fitted, saved her life.

[2] Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, she remained in her position but as the King’s representative in county Durham.