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PUPILS WALK IN MEMORY OF ELEANOR |
 Following the death of a Parmiter‟s pupil earlier this month, fellow pupils at the school completed a walk in her memory. Year 11 student Eleanor Austin, 15, was hit by a silver Peugeot on Friday, November 6, on North Orbital Road, just north of the junction with Chequers Lane, and sadly died in hospital just three days later on Monday, November 9. Pupils wanted to pay their respects to their former classmate and organised the event, which took place on Sunday November 15 at 9.00am. It was the idea of Eleanor‟s best friend and fellow Year 11 student at Parmiter‟s, Molly Dow-nes, and started at the latter‟s home in Tudor Manor Gardens. Police estimate that 300 people took part in-cluding Headteacher Brian Coulshed, Deputy Headteacher Sarah Lansley, Assistant Head-teacher, Jan Stevens, and teacher, Mrs Perry. The police closed Chequers Lane and two PCSOs from Abbots Langley escorted the procession. After everyone had placed their flowers and tributes, Molly, 15, asked for a minute‟s silence followed by a thank you to everyone and a re-minder that Eleanor would have found it very funny that everyone had made such a fuss. After the event Molly said: “The response for the walk was overwhelming but it was no less than she deserved. You couldn‟t ask for a better best friend.” Headteacher Brian Coulshed said: “Amid the sadness we are feeling, the walk epitomised the caring nature of these young people and the need for hope for the future.” Over 3,500 members had already joined the Facebook group „Rest in Peace Eleanor Austin‟, showing her popularity. Eleanor‟s family has identified two charities, which friends and others may wish to support. The first is „the 2:67 Project‟, which has been set up to offer advice, support, encouragement, networking, resources and training in all areas of youth and children‟s work across the St Al-bans area in any and every church/organisation. The second is the Noah‟s Ark Children‟s Hos-pice in Barnet, which is committed to developing a hospice service to provide practical support to an estimated 350 life-limited children, and their families, living within the communities of South Hertfordshire and North London. Eleanor‟s funeral took place on Monday No-vember 23, with a Eulogy read by family friend and former youth leader at St Luke‟s Church, Bricket Wood, Mike Palin. Eleanor‟s friend Molly then took to the stand and said a few words. She said: “Eleanor liked her sleep and we found it difficult to get her up in the morning – I‟m sorry we couldn‟t wake her one more time.” Eleanor‟s favourite colour was green, so every-one at the service wore something of that colour, while songs played included Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton and Eleanor by The Turtles.
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