Our children lost a special friend

OUR pupils have lost something utterly irreplaceable.

This charismatic man who took so much interest in them made it impossible for youngsters to connect him to those distant politicians on TV.

He would sit with our children and chat enthusiastically about topics that mattered to them; animal rights, the environment and climate change.

He listened without a hint of condescension and made them feel their opinions counted. That was what made David Amess so unique.

There is a generation of pupils at Saint Pierre School in Leigh-on-Sea who are as confused as they are devastated. They have no understanding or experience of a depth of hatred that would remove a smiling, jovial friend from their world.

His enthusiasm for the pupils and interest in their endeavours was refreshingly genuine and he was a huge part of the Children’s Parliament we are running.

This half term, head pupils Eva Bancroft, Cyprian Krolik, Lola Hillgrove and Ajay Naik Gaunekar are spending their time designing an assembly as a tribute to Sir David.

Their whole class, our Year 6, will recall the things he did which mattered to them; how he planted trees with us, how he visited, unexpectedly and alone, our tiny Saturday art show and talked passionately to teachers and pupils.

He spoke at our assemblies with a fervour that had little eyes wide with wonder. He talked of how politics could change what mattered to them and he taught pupils that they could make a difference.

Beyond all this, however, he gave our children the one thing they value the most; he gave them his time and that is how they will remember him.

The pupils have discussed with me doing something that would give tribute to Sir David in a way that would offer credence to their feelings for him.

What they came up with speaks louder than any lengthy obituary.

In our entrance hall they will hang a picture of him, with the simple inscription: “Sir David Amess, On 15th October 2021 we lost our best friend.”