We have had a tragic event at Didsbury Stagecoach. One of our students Phoebe Casson died on Saturday 17th September. She died from a rare genetic condition LPIN1 of which there is no expertise in this country or anywhere else for that matter. Her father is Ralph our Sunday drama teacher. He has worked for Stagecoach Didsbury for about 12 years. So it’s been a double blow. Phoebe would have been 5 in December. She was bright, very talented and absolutely loved Stagecoach. We are all heart broken. We always knew that her condition might prevent her from making it through child hood. But when it came it was a huge shock. Ralph and his wife are broken. She was their only child as they married quite late in life. I have been to see them and they are in a very poor way. The funeral took place on Wednesday 5th October in the form of a celebration of Phoebe’s short life.

Ralph will not be returning to Stagecoach in the near future and we have engaged Naomi Albans and Robert Becket to teach Drama on Sunday mornings and Sunday afternoons. Ralph was self employed and as a consequence will not be able to earn until he feels he can return to work.

In the New Year we shall be putting on a concert in memory of Phoebe.

As an organization we would like to help Ralph and his wife Claire. We have set up a giving page for the family . If anyone feels that they would like to donate you can do so by going to the following link. I would like to stress this is completely voluntary.