Camden News: Holy Trinity and St Silas School | Clarence Way | Kentish Town | Bench | Theft

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Camden News - by TOM FOOT
Published: 29 May 2008

Holy Trinity and St Silas School pupils missing their bench, from right, Tasnima, Jamil, Sadia and Lewis

Thieves strike at pupils’ garden

Drug addicts blamed for loss of bench bought as part of £5,000 fundraising campaign

FURIOUS teachers have called for the return of a bench stolen from a school garden.
Thieves used bolt-cutters to slice through a gate lock at Holy Trinity and St Silas School in Clarence Way, Kentish Town, last Wednesday.
The theft came days after the Church of England primary school proudly opened its magnificent “memory” garden following a £5,000 fundraising campaign.
“It is just absolutely outrageous,” said headteacher Annie Williams. “They broke the lock and stole the bench. I am so furious.”
She blamed drug addicts and has fixed notices to railings and lampposts near the school sarcastically warning thieves: “If you want a bench feel free to contact the school – we are happy to help. But do not steal from children.” Green-fingered pupils have spent the week planting vegetables and flowers for the first time at the garden in neighbouring Holy Trinity Church grounds. Now they have nowhere to sit and admire the fruits of their labour.
Deputy head Brian Welsh said: “This place used to be littered with syringes, empty cans and stones – anything anyone could chuck basically.
“The memory garden has been really great for the kids. Most of them don’t have gardens at home because they live in flats. They all helped design it in a school project and we raised around £5,000. The bench cost about £200, but it is not the money.”
He added: “If these people could find it in their hearts to return it to the garden we would love to have it back. They could leave it there anonymously.”
Campaigner Silla Carron, who has a grandchild at the school, said: “I’m not sure if it’s drug addicts. And I doubt it’s teenagers either. I’m not sure they are together enough to do something like this. It sounds like a planned job.
“The sad fact is that thieves like a challenge. You lock something up and they think ‘you can’t stop me’. They would have been better off putting a tatty one up there.”
She added: “It’s the way of the world, I’m afraid. I don’t know what you do about it other than bring back a bit of discipline and boundaries. We need to get the community coming together.”

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