A WOMAN has donated £500 to her granddaughter’s primary school in Lifton, in memory of her late husband.

Diane Burke has had nearly 18 years of association with Lifton Primary School, run by a strong team of staff under headteacher Melanie Cripps, with two children having attended the school, and her grandchildren also attending or due to attend today.

Diane made the generous donation of £500 to the school just before Christmas.

Diane explained that her grandaughter, Lauren Paige, seven, loves attending the school, and has been supported in growing into a kind, well-spoken and bright girl by the staff and her fellow pupils.

She told the Post: “I’ve donated to the school before, like when the school is short of equipment — I always try and help if I can. It all started when my aunt left me some money, and I wanted to give some of it to a good cause. I thought the local school was a good cause, and I’ve had almost 18 years’ association with this primary school now. My two children and my grandchildren have all attended or are going to attend.”

Diane’s husband, William (Bill) Burke, passed away last year after a short illness. He is buried in Lifton churchyard, close to the school, and Diane said he would have wanted her to donate something to the school.

“It was just before Christmas that I mentioned donating some money, and it’s all in memory of my husband. There’s so much underfunding in schools now, and I’d like to see the children have what they need. My husband left me quite well provided — I have a lovely home, I’m quite comfortable. I’d rather see my grandchildren have the right equipment and resources at school, instead of spending the money on myself.”

Diane and Bill, who moved from Essex 20 years ago, once owned a hotel in Torquay. When they sold the business, Bill told his wife that he would like to live in a village, and they found a bungalow in Darkey Lane, and Diane has now lived there for eight years.

Diane said: “It’s nice to see that the community school is being supported, and of course we’ve got the community centre in Lifton as well now, which is great. If the school is well supported then the children are well supported.

“Lauren is a beautiful girl — she’s well-spoken, polite — the teachers have really helped her during her time here. I know Mrs Cripps has worked very hard to turn this school around too. As soon as she came here, fences were put up, there was more security — she really changed it around. It’s in her personality too — she’s the sort of person who thinks of something and just does it and gets it done. She’s worked wonders.”

Diane hopes the money will be put towards the school’s plans to enhance the forest school and outdoor learning facilities.

“I would have donated more,” she said. “But I knew Tesco’s were also giving some money to the school.”

Through Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme, Lifton Primary School has recently received £4,000 towards developing the outdoor learning area.

Diane added: “My husband and I always used to support the school anyway, with cake sales and things like that. The underfunding is so terrible in schools, I just think if parents and grandparents can help a little bit, then it would make such a difference.”

Mrs Cripps said: “We’re really hoping the pond area and renovations will be done by the summer. Sarah Hallett, who works for Roadford Lake, has been absolutely brilliant in helping us achieve what we need to do with the outside area. She totally understands the importance of encouraging outdoor learning.”

Lifton already has its forest school established, allowing the children to get outdoors and take part in outdoor activities and learn more about nature and their surroundings.

Mrs Cripps said: “We have a pond, which is all fenced off at the moment, but the children can still go out and pick up nature through forest school. What we want to do is renovate and clear out the pond, because it’s all over grown at the moment, and create a decking area, which will be a pond-dipping platform for the children. It will have a fence and gate so children can come in and out.

“We’re also hoping to use the site to invite other people to get some training in forest school initiatives, such as student teachers. We’re committed to forest school provision here, because we think it’s the best way for children to learn outdoors. It also assists with science lessons, creative writing and more.”

There are also plans in place to create a more sustainable path leading to the forest school area. It is hoped contractors will be involved in the main work, with some local volunteers also offering some spare time.

Mrs Cripps added: “On behalf of the children and school, I would like to thank Mrs Burke so very much for her very generous donation.”

Diane is now looking forward to a well-deserved trip on the Orient Express with her sisters, and a break to Vienna.