Jenny Davidson 19th April 1958 - 17th April 2009

It is with great sadness that we announce today that Jenny Davidson, teacher of English, Integrated Studies and English as an Additional Language and form tutor to 7D, died suddenly on Friday night having been taken ill on Thursday afternoon. She was off school on Friday and told her family that she was feeling a little better. The family had a normal evening together. She had just said goodnight to her family and popped to the kitchen to get something before going to bed. In the kitchen she collapsed quite suddenly and was pronounced dead by the ambulance crew who arrived only minutes later.
Jenny joined the school in 1991 as a Matron and worked in Holywell Mount, then a boarding house, with Robin Jarvis who was Housemaster at the time. She later worked with Mr Christopher Pyemont in Meads End and in both houses she was a firm favourite amongst pupils who quickly trusted her and valued her kindness. She was always someone who put the school and the children first and the school became an extension of her own family. It was after a period of working in the boarding houses that she decided to take up teaching. She successfully studied for TEFL qualification followed by a degree and then did teacher training, qualifying in 2008, just a year ago. Just as in the boarding house, she loved her teaching. Much thought went into her lessons and her classroom was always full of energetic learning. She cared deeply about St Bede’s and was always the first to volunteer ideas and to lead trips, such as the recent Year 7 trip to Bradford. She worked with many pupils learning English on a one-to-one basis and went the extra mile to support them all.
Amongst the staff, she was a great friend. As with everything else, she truly cared how everyone was and took an interest in her fellow teachers, in the GAP student staff and all the support staff who work in our school. She was also well known to many parents who valued the fact that she was always there for their children, always approachable and always eager to help in whatever way possible. Many subsequently became friends.
This morning members of Year 7 and 8 have had a special chapel service where we have remembered Mrs Davidson together. Mrs Collins has spoken to Year 6 about the news and Mrs Lindop has met Year 5. Form tutors in Years 3 and 4, where the children are much younger and knew Mrs Davidson much less well, have talked to their children in individual form groups about the sad news. In addition to our regular care staff, Mrs Steer, a school counselor, and Mrs Raven have both been in school to help our staff and pupils come to terms with the loss. We are planning to hold a memorial assembly on Friday for the whole school to remember Mrs Davidson - her family are helping us to plan it. Mrs Davidson’s funeral is likely to take a little time to organise. We will contact parents with special plans for this day once the timing has been finalised.
Jenny leaves behind her husband Alastair and her two children Zoë and Emily, both of whom spent their school days at St Bede’s. She will be a huge loss to us all and we offer her family and friends and all staff and pupils our condolences.