A BID to create a lasting memorial for a school stalwart is asking for the community to rally round.

Kimpton, Thruxton and Fyfield C of E Primary School is raising funds to install a stained glass window to remember the late Reverend Canon Dr Ian Tomlinson.

He served as the incumbent of the school’s benefice for more than 37 years and was a school governor.

Following his death in October 2016, at the age of 66, from cancer, the school decided they wanted to pay tribute.

Chair of governors Margaret Brome said: “We decided we wanted to do something in memoriam to him as he was very much part of the school.

“We had a discussion as to what would be the most fitting and someone came up with the idea of a stained glass window.”

It is planned that the stained glass window will be installed in the school hall where Rev.. Tomlinson regularly held collective worship.

“We thought the school hall had a lot of connections and it would be there permanently. It would be there for all the pupils to see and the wider community,” Margaret added.

The window will include a skylark, which was significant to Rev. Tomlinson, along with work created by pupils.

The appeal to raise money for the memorial was started with pupils holding cake sales and Year 5 and 6 donating funds from their end of term show to raise almost £500, with donations also coming from families connected with the school.

But it is now calling on the wider community to donate.

“We want to open it up to the wider community as a lot of people in the area might have been married by Ian then he christened their children and then married the children,” Margaret said.

Once the window is complete and in place, it is expected that the school will host an unveiling ceremony by the bishop of the diocese, with all those associated with school and those who donate invited to attend.

At the time of his death, tributes were paid to Rev. Tomlinson, with friends, parishioners and colleagues describing him as a “maverick priest” who possessed incredible intelligence, wit and humility.

To donate to the appeal, contact the school directly on 01264 772297 by the end of November.