Model pupils and staff say farewell

Mrs Surgenor, together with her husband, mother, son, daughter and grandchildren enjoyed a presentation to which many children and adults contributed.

Having been welcomed back to school by Mr McVeigh, all of the children sang Mrs Surgenor’s favourite hymn, “Thank You Jesus.” Three children, Kathleen Simpson, Rebecca Parkhill and Ella Given from her last class, then read out some of their brief thoughts about her and this was followed by the Year 4 and 5 musicians, Leah Cassells, Charlotte Boyd, Joseph Patterson, Emily Devlin, Lauren McKane, Elena Campbell, Alyssia Gibson and Diana Watton playing violins and flutes.

Mr McVeigh then read an appreciation sent by Mrs Kate Murphy, a former NEELB colleague, who was unable to be present due to a prior family commitment.

Jonathan Waide who began playing music in Mrs Surgenor’s P.4 class many years ago returned to school to play his clarinet for her before a quartet of Year 5 girls, Paris-Rose McVicker, Laura Williamson, Kathryn Finlay and Anna-Jane Murphy, played their violins.

Further brief thoughts about Mrs Surgenor were read by three pupils, Emily Devlin, Dylan O’Kane and Paris-Rose McVicker, after which Mr William Witherow, Chairman of the Board of Governors thanked her for her dedicated service for over 30 years in school.

After Ellen Kearney played a flute solo, Mrs Crymble who had for many years been Mrs Surgenor’s parallel teacher, delivered a moving but sometimes hilarious tribute to Mrs Surgenor. A presentation of a garden waterfall was then made to Mrs Surgenor from the School and bouquets of flowers were presented to both Mrs Surgenor and her mother Mrs Hanna. Mrs Surgenor then spoke to the audience of her time in school, told kept the children’s attention with a wonderful tale of love between a mother and her son and thanked everyone sincerely for their gifts and the special presentation.

Mr McVeigh once again thanked Mrs Surgenor for her contribution to the life of the school and then the choir sang “Everybody Praise Him.” The whole school concluded the event with their rendition of “You are a Star!.”