Tough life lessons (From Croydon Guardian)

Tough life lessons

4:46pm Thursday 10th July 2003 in

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Anne Pendry was just hours into her first day as a headteacher in January 2002, when James Haddad's parents Robert and Sue broke the news that their son had an inoperable brain tumour.

Rather than shying away from his daunting illness, Mrs Pendry welcomed him back to school throughout his 10-month ordeal and helped his fellow pupils understand what was happening.

Ms Pendry, a mother to three sons, told the Guardian: "When I first heard about James my response was as a mother. I wanted to offer his family my support in any way they needed."

James initially returned to the school he loved for two hours a morning, before his condition deteriorated and visits became less frequent.

But even when confined to a wheel-chair with his sight and speech fading, James was welcomed back, and staff and parents threw themselves into fund-raising to get James to America for treatment.

Ms Pendry said: "Being responsible for the well-being and education of 343 pupils, meant that I had to guide them and support them through this traumatic time.

"Telling the whole school that he had died was so hard. Most people in the assembly cried as I tried to explain that James was a very special person and God needed him."

James' classmates attended his funeral in October 2002 and the whole school stood in silence as his coffin passed by, before balloons were released at a separate school service.

On Thursday, the school marked the six month anniversary by dedicating the new James Haddad Prayer Garden at the school.

Ms Pendry said: "James' memory will always be kept alive and with the opening of the garden the children will have somewhere to go to reflect."

Ms Pendry has just been named as a regional finalist in the National Teaching Awards after being nominated by a number of grateful parents, including the Haddads.

Sue Haddad said: "She handled it brilliantly from the word go. Her support to James, us, the children and other parents was remarkably sensitive and caring."

But Ms Pendry feels her nomination is for the whole school.

She said: "I couldn't have done any of this alone. The school staff have supported me and the Haddads, and I would like to thank them all.

"I admired, and still do the strength of Sue, Robert and [his sister] Christine. Their pain and suffering was clear to see, as was their incredible inner strength through faith."