8:43am Tuesday 29th May 2007
By Gazette Reporter
A fundraising event has been planned to honour a Wootton Bassett schoolteacher who died suddenly from cancer.
Trudy Burbidge, a 34-year-old teacher at Gorse Hill Infants School, died last Christmas just months before her wedding day.
The infants school will hold a summer fun day on July 7 to support Cancer Research. It will be held at the school grounds and is aimed at helping the children remember their teacher while boosting funds for the charity.
The popular teacher complained of feeling unwell at the end of term in December. She died at Great Western Hospital six days later, unaware until then that she had terminal cancer.
In January pupils created a memory wall with drawings and pictures to celebrate her life, and the same spirit will be present at the fun day.
There will be toy and bookstalls, games, fancy dress and refreshments. The school is looking for donations to make the day a success.
Headteacher Sue Kershaw can be contacted on 01793 523800 to arrange for delivery of items.
Mrs Kershaw spoke at the time of the educational legacy Miss Burbidge left for her pupils. Speaking in January she said: "She was an outstanding teacher, as recognised in our Ofsted two months ago.
"It was down to her that the school was one of the first to receive the BECTA (British Educational and Technology Agency) ICT award.
"We will miss all the laughter and her quick wit, sense of humour and her vivacious, sparkly personality."
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