Helping Us To Raise Money For The New Roof at St. Anselm’s School In Memory Of Our Mum… Mrs. Campbell.

*Due to the success of reaching our original target my family and I have raised the amount so that we can help contibute further towards the schools roof. Thank you so much for all of the generous donations we have recieved so far on behalf of our mum, thank you.

On Sunday 29th October, my family were told the devastating news that our wonderful Mum, an amazing Wife and Sister, and a loved Colleague and Friend, had unexpectedly passed away in the early hours of the morning due to an illness which she had bravely lived with for the past few years. Mum has left behind three daughters, a husband of 35 years, two sisters, and countless friends.

Weeks on, the shock and devastation of our loss and Mum’s absence is still too strong to put into words. She was such an influential, fundamental, and expected presence in our lives; it is hard to come to terms with the new reality that she is not here anymore.

This feeling is not ours alone. Over the past weeks it has become clear that Mum was not just someone important to us, but her absence has left a hole in the lives of her friends, colleagues, and the school and church community.

When someone dies unexpectedly you find yourself trying to find a way to make them still present in your life and to do something meaningful to reflect significance and reasoning to what has happened. To give it purpose.

This was Mum’s trait, she was the type of person who would give a ‘greater meaning’ and help you see a different perspective. So when we found out about St. Anselm’s Primary School and the help they needed, it definitely was a ‘light-bulb moment’. It was a moment that felt like Mum had reached out, tapped us on the shoulder, and just like she used to, guided us in the right direction.

Our Mum went by many names; Mummy, Madre, Mother, Mum, Claire, Clarissa… but one which was heard more-so, mainly at work (and the local Sainsbury’s) was, ‘Mrs. Campbell’. Mum worked at St. Anselm’s for 18 years, and was a prominent part of the school and church community. Mum was a constant in that school; whether it was from being a parent during the early years myself and Bryony and Hannah were at school, to when she became a Teaching Assistant.

It is inspiring to think about all the children she taught, those she helped, those she comforted, and those she inspired. The school was Mum’s second home, it was her true calling in life, it was her passion. Our loss is not ours alone, but also the loss of her other family - the one at St. Anselm’s.

The school was her place, and in the corridors and classrooms Mum’s memory and presence is there. We realised that if Mum could be anywhere other than with us - her smile, humour, wisdom, and beautiful spirit would be in the school. So we decided that it should be.

St. Anselm’s roof is currently going through much needed replacement, and although they were able to fund 90% of the cost through a grant, given to them by the Department of Education, St Anselm’s is a voluntary aided school which means they require the remaining 10% of the cost.

The total cost of the roofs replacement is £207,208.10, meaning the school will have to pay £20,621.00. This, as you can imagine, is a significant amount of money which will either have to come through the school budget, or fundraising by the school, parish, or community. If this money is not raised, significant cuts would be made which will be at the detriment of the school, its staff, and most importantly, the children's education.

Mum’s heart and soul was at this school, and during this time when they need the most help, she would have pushed us along to every fundraising event going. She would be expressing the concern that this doesn’t just effect a school building, but her friends and colleagues. It would have affected her. This is why we are asking you to help us raise £1,000.00 to help towards the roof’s refurbishment in Mum’s name, a final gift from Mrs Campbell.

We cannot think of a better way to place donations in memory of our lovely Mum, beloved wife and sister. Mum will forever be in our memory, thoughts, and homes, and in this way, her memory and presence will always be in the school for generations to come.

Thank you for reading this, and thank you for any help you are able to give. On behalf of Claire Jane Campbell, a wife, a mum, a sister… Thank you for helping her memory live on in such a positive way.