When I attended Holy Cross Convent in New Malden, Surrey, from 1971 to 1978, my history teacher was Doreen Fowler, writes Siobhain McDonagh. Mrs Fowler, who came from a Catholic working-class family in the North-East, brought history alive by playing all the characters she was teaching us about. She would make Elizabeth I, Joan of Arc, Bismarck or even Hitler come to life right in front of our eyes in lessons I can never forget.She never wanted to be a friend – she was strictly Mrs Fowler to her pupils – but she was determined to be an inspirational teacher and mentor. She tried to bring out the best in everyone and the more difficult the girl, the more determined she would be for her to do well. I was one of her more rebellious pupils and delighted in being awkward and argume