Camden New Journal - News

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Camden News - by SARA NEWMAN
Published: 10 July 2008

Rhyl Primary School students with Brenda Degerdon’s son Mal Hennessey, far right, and partner Graham Reed, far left. Chairwoman of governors, Helene Reardon-Bond, is holding her recent Epic award with Frank Dobson – next to him in the school’s library is headteacher Christina Oki

Peace message at school

LABOUR MP Frank Dobson urged pupils to work hard and respect each other as he opened a revamped library at a primary school.
In the wake of a spate of teenage violence in Islington and Camden, Mr Dobson, the MP for St Pancras and Holborn, told the Friday morning assembly at Rhyl Primary School in Rhyl Street, Kentish Town: “It’s very important that we learn to write because that way it will be better for you in life.
“Try to remember this: we are all on this Earth together. We have all got to live together so we might as well live peacefully with one another.”
Books were bought for the library instead of flowers following the death of Brenda Degerdon, a governor at the school, who died last year, aged 83.
Ms Degerdon dedicated 30 years of her life to the school where more than 50 per cent of the pupils receive free school meals.
Her partner, Graham Reed, 60, said: “I’ve never been a fan of masses of flowers at funerals. It’s sad. Flowers die after a few days. I wanted to see the money put to good use.”
Headteacher Christina Oki matched the £700 raised by mourners by drawing from the school budget.
Ms Oki said: “We have repainted, bought new furniture and dry-cleaned the curtains, but the best part is the quality of books we have been able to buy.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: