Heather Croucher, who has been a Teaching Assistant at Preshute School for 25 years, is retiring at the end of term. As a pianist, she has played a huge part in the musical life of the school, accompanying class and whole school singing, starting choirs and helping to develop children’s musical talents giving them the confidence to perform in public concerts. Heather marked her retirement with a tea party in St Peter’s Church for her friends, many of whom are parents or ex-colleagues or members of the Manton and Preshute church community.
Celia Hicks, ex-Headteacher of Preshute School said, “Heather is the kindest person you will ever meet, loved by staff and children. She has enriched the lives of our children with her musical talents, particularly on the piano and accordion, as well as through her involvement with the church and her contributions to ‘Open the Book’. I’m certain the children will fondly remember her for years to come. We owe her a huge debt of gratitude. Good luck in a well-deserved retirement and thank you for the huge contribution you have made to young people’s lives.”
The afternoon started with Heather on the piano and her friend Caroline on the flute accompanying ex-Preshute students, Leonie and Alice, as they sang a medley of Preshute children’s favourite songs over the years. This included ‘The Travelling Song’ which, with its Christian lyrics, was almost adopted as the school song was often sung at the Year 6 leavers’ assembly. The overall favourite song was ‘The Titanic’, an action song with sad lyrics, but with a very catchy tune, which captured the children’s imagination. Both Leonie and Alice have built on their musical grounding at Preshute with Leonie now studying Music at York University and Alice about to study Music A-Level.
Heather reflected on her time at Preshute School. Highlights included Preshute School choir winning the carol competition in Marlborough Town Hall in 2010, taking children to the Jubilee Centre every Christmas to sing carols and fostering links between church and school through the bible story telling programme, ‘Open the Book’ as well as ‘Teddy Prayers’ for pre-school children. Heather is always keen to use props and costumes to help bring bible stories alive and is often cast as an angel!
Heather hopes her retirement will allow her to have more time to spend with her son, Joshua, who lives in Australia. Marlborough.News has also been told that she’s a very proficient table tennis player who will be playing in the Devizes league in the autumn.
The final words must go to Heather – “I would like to thank everyone who has made my time at Preshute School so special over the years. I will always hold the treasured memories of my time there in my heart.”
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