Memorial garden is school's own tribute (From Barry And District News)

Memorial garden is school's own tribute

ST RICHARD Gwyn RC School has been given a massive £2.2 million upgrade to classrooms and facilities.

And as part of the investment, the school has opened a garden built as a memorial to the children of the Mochrie family, who died in tragic circumstances.

The project provides new laboratories and classrooms with state-of-the-art science equipment, and was officially opened by Jane Hutt, Assembly member for the Vale of Glamorgan.

Christine Morrish, deputy headteacher of St Richard Gwyn, said: "It was a delightful day marking the Welsh Assembly's support for this only "Faith High School" for secondary pupils in the Vale."

Jane Hutt cut the ribbon and unveiled the plaque at the indoor garden, which has been built as a memorial for the children of the Mochrie family- all six members of which died almost four years ago.

Robert Mochrie killed his wife Catherine, 45, and children - James, 18, Sian 16, Luke, 14 and Bethan, 10, before killing himself at the family home in Rutland Close.

Sian and Luke were pupils at St Richard Gwyn at the time of their deaths. James had also been a pupil at the school.

The centrepiece of the garden is an ornate crucifix from St Michael's Church, which closed its doors recently.

The crucifix was given to the church Mr George King of Barry who was keen to see it get a fitting new home.

The memorial plaque contains a quotation from the bible: "Let the little children come to me."

The opening ceremony began with a celebration of Mass with Archbishop Peter Smith.

Later in the morning Jane Davidson, Assembly Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, arrived and awarded the "Basic Skills Quality Mark" to parents, Mrs Jones and Mrs Coomer of Barry who have been working together closely with pupils.