Family, friends, governors and staff gathered at Spalding High School on Saturday (Sept 24) to pay tribute to former student Charlotte Hart.
Charlotte, who attended the school between 2008 and 2015, died from a shotgun incident in Spalding in July.
The memorial service was led by chairman of the governing body Dr Peter Gorton with eulogies read by Charlotte’s brothers Luke and Ryan, headmistress Michele Anderson and deputy head Tanya Waldron.
A cherry blossom tree was planted in the memorial garden surrounded by a circular bench with a commemorative plaque. A new school award will also be introduced at the senior school prizegiving in December.
Luke and Ryan said: “We would like to say thank you to the Spalding High School for the opportunity to leave a lasting memorial for Charlotte.
“Along with this we are very grateful for the opportunity to create an annual award, in memory of Charlotte, for the most improved student across sixth form.
“We would also like to thank Malc Firth Nurseries for donating this cherry blossom in Charlotte’s memory.
“‘Doing a Charlotte’ is a phrase used at the High School and is one that, as brothers, we were very familiar with too. Charlotte could at times look as if she was making no particular concerted effort but in reality she was amassing enormous quantities of energy to achieve what she wanted. She often surpassed all expectations to achieve extraordinary results in all aspects of her life.
“This cherry blossom is a pertinent reminder of Charlotte’s resolute, persisting and beautiful personality and we hope that Charlotte’s memory can inspire the best efforts of the girls at the Spalding High School into the future.”
Tributes were paid by Charlotte’s friends who recalled how everyone who knew her thought that she was a lively and sweet young lady who enjoyed life and loved to dance and sing. It was said that she made lives brighter and stood out as an exceedingly caring and kind young woman who never failed to deliver a warm witty joke with a healthy dose of sarcasm; this light-hearted banter, combined with her humorous personality and easy-going nature made her incredibly popular with friends.
Charlotte’s former tutor, Mary Clay, said: “I cannot remember ever having to worry about any aspect of her progress or behaviour.
“Although she was quiet in class you could not ignore her Amazonian blond radiance and when she let slip her keen humour I could see that here was someone who not only co-operated perfectly with everyone, but also that she had a keen love of life and sense of fun.
“I know Charlotte was passionate about animals. I think that they, in turn, are very perceptive of human kindness.
“I too, could sense that wonderful gift of compassion and sweetness within her.”
Mrs Anderson said at the service: “All of us in attendance today wished we did not have cause to be here, but today is a celebration of Charlotte’s life, passions, friendships and relationships. It is the opportunity to come together, support each other and celebrate just how special Charlotte was.
“She will be remembered forever here at the High.”
