A touching memorial has been installed in a Nailsea school to pay tribute to a ‘lovely and cheeky’ pupil who passed away last year.
Bailee Cook suffered from mitochondrial disease and he died suddenly last year at the age of four.
Bailee was a reception pupil at Golden Valley Primary School and staff and pupils were devastated by his death.
They decided to raise money to pay for a lasting tribute to the bubbly youngster.
The school contacted Bailee’s parents Jemma Capern and Lee Cook and came up with the idea of a climbing wall as Bailee was so active.
Jemma told the Times: “We were going to put in a bench for Bailee, but we decided a climbing wall would be better because he never sat still.
“He was always running around.
“Bailee loved school. He was just a little character – lovely and cheeky.
“The school has been amazing.
“I’ve got an older daughter, Gracie-Leigh, and they’ve been amazing with her and with our whole family.
“Last year we raised some money by holding a blue day for him and the reception mums also raised some money so it was really nice.
“Everyone had an input into it.
“I just want to thank everyone for their support.
“All our family and friends and everyone round the school – they have all been so lovely.”
The whole school dressed in blue – Bailee’s favourite colour – on Tuesday to remember the youngster.
Bailee’s parents were also invited to the grand unveiling of the traverse climbing wall and plaque in his name.
Kevin Lynch, headteacher of Golden Valley Primary School, said: “Bailee was such an active boy, always smiling and never sitting still for long.
“We thought for a long time about what would be a fitting tribute to remember Bailee by and came up with the idea of a traverse climbing wall as it is something that he would’ve loved.
“Money for the wall has come partly through a donation from the school’s Parent Teacher Association (the GVSA) and from donations from families.
“A special plaque at the point that they mount the climbing wall will remind the pupils of their special friend, Bailee Cook.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here