The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Tributes to ‘ caring’ teacher who went the extra mile for pupils
Tributes have been paid to a teacher whowent the extra mile to help pupils at the Peterborough special school where he worked. TerryGriffithsworkedasdeputy head teacher at Marshfields School in Eastern Close, Dogsthorpe, for a number of years, wherehewasknownasa popular andhard- workingmembers of staff.
The school has pupils aged from 11 to 19 who have special needs, and people who paid tribute to Mr Griffiths spoke of his caring attitude to the youngsters, as well as his desire to help all of the pupils at the school.
He died in December, and Bernard Dempsey, whose son wenttotheschool, leadthetributes to Mr Griffiths.
MrDempseysaidherememberedMrGriffith’shardworkat the school.
Hesaid:“I haveknownTerry since 2002 which was the year my son started at Marshfields School and I have had contact with him even after we left Peterborough and moved out of the area in 2008.
“Terrywasextremelydevoted to Marshfields and their pu- pils and was still working up to and after 8pm most evenings.”
Mr Dempsey added that during his time at the school Mr Griffiths had a big impact on his son.
He said: “He was an extremely dedicated teacher who went far and beyond what you wouldexpect fromatutor andI wouldsaythatTerrypersonally hadahugeimpactonhelpingto makemysontheyoungadulthe is today.
“My son was not academically mindedandactuallyhated school but Terry worked hard onthethingshedidlikeandthis all helped to ensure that he is in full time employment today.
“I know that Marshfields wasn’t aoneteacherschooland it had other very good teachers but in my opinion few gave the time anddevotion to the school anditspupilsthatTerrydidand he will be sadly missed.”
Councillor John Holdich, Peterborough City Council’s cabinet memberforEducation, Skills and University, offered condolences to Mr Griffiths’ family, and said he had done a lot of work to help pupils at the school, as well as being known for his caring nature.
Cllr Holdich said: “I knowhe hadatremendousreputationin the school.
“He was a very caring and professional person who the kids all loved.”
Jonathan Lewis, the council’s assistant director for education and resources, also paid tribute to Mr Griffiths.
He said: “I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Terry’s family and friends following this tragic news.”