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Son of murdered former Croydon Elmhurst School for Boys headmaster arrested (From Croydon Guardian)
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Son of murdered former Croydon Elmhurst School for Boys headmaster arrested
3:50pm Thursday 1st October 2009
The son of two well respected teachers, found stabbed to death in their south Croydon, home has been arrested.
Barry Dighton, 61 and his wife Elizabeth, 60, were found murdered at their first floor maisonette in Campden Road, at lunchtime yesterday following reports of a disturbance.
A police source confirmed the couple’s son, Danny Dighton, 34, who worked as a teaching assistant at the same school as his parents, was arrested at the scene and is currently in custody at a south London police station.
Danny Dighton had been working as a teacher in Thailand but returned, telling friends it hadn’t worked out.
He was a regular drinker at The Folly Pub in Selsdon Road.
Landlady, Julie Lowe, 44, said: “He was a really nice guy. He used to drink here on most days with his mates but was never any trouble.
“He had recently been to Thailand to teach but came back saying that it hadn’t worked out.
“Danny was such a gentle man, he was lovely, a gentle giant.”
Barry Dighton retired in 2006 as headmaster of Elmhurst School for Boys, South Park Hill Road, which is rated as one of top 20 independent prep schools in the country.
Mrs Dighton was head of the year one reception class at the school.
A former pupil of Barry Dighton, Adam Jeffrey, said: “I used to go to Elmhurst when Mr and Mrs Dighton were there.
“I came to Elmhurst with a lot of academic difficulties and it was Mr Dighton who gave me the chance and allowed me in.
“I am now at De Montfort University studying computer science if it wasn't for him I would not be here now. My whole family are devastated by the news.
“He was such a lovely man. Me and my dad are keen Crystal Palace supporters and we used to see Danny and Mr Dighton there every Saturday.”
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Your Say YourCroydon
MRS. BOB PEEL, CROYDON says...
4:25pm Sun 4 Oct 09
Former Croydon Elmhurst School for Boys headmaster Barry Dighton
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David Calvert-Orange, Doncaster says...
6:52am Fri 2 Oct 09
I was a teacher at Elmhurst over 20 years ago and knew Barry and Liz well.
A previous comment has described Barry as 'Elmhurst' and this could be no finer tribute to him. He was so well respected and adored by the pupils and it is no wonder the school, under his leadership became one of the top 20 Prep Schools in the country.
Now I too am retired and run a registered charity 'Wheel of Hope' which is Doncaster Minster's charity for the destitute.
We run a small Care Centre for nearly 50 destitute children in the fishing village of Vijingham near the South Indian tourist centre of Kovalam in Kerala.
We are desperately in need of funds to build a permanent home for our children.
Elmhurst in my day was very much a multi-racial school with many of the boys comming from the Indian sub-continent and I wondered if as a fitting memorial to Barry and Liz a fund could be established to facilitate this?
In deepest sympathy and shock from one who has such fond memories of a perfect school, a perfect headmaster, his truly wonderful wife Liz ... and his young son Danny who was then of similar age to the boys at the school and such a caring part of the school family.
David Calvert-Coange