A MISSION to create a lasting memorial for a school stalwart has come to fruition after the community rallied round.

Kimpton, Thruxton and Fyfield C of E Primary School has now unveiled a stain glass window dedicated to 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.

The fundraising was kicked off in June last year with each class holding a fundraising activity and following this generous donations have been received from present and former pupils, parents, staff and the wider community.

The window was commissioned by a professional stained glass maker, Themis Mikellides, Bath Aqua Glass and incorporates the children’s drawings of all five of the churches in the Benefice - Kimpton, Thruxton, Fyfield, Appleshaw and Shipton Bellinger, as well as a skylark - something which was significant to Ian, and the leadwork is based on the road map joining all five villages.

Some of the children whose designs have been incorporated into the final window were lucky enough to go and visit the stain glass window studio and learn a more about the processes involved in creating the piece and pick up some new skills, including glass and lead cutting.

Reverend Peter Dill a long-term friend of Ian’s from King’s College in the1960’s reflected on the morning of July 11 when the memorial was unveiled.

He said: “This morning a spirit of memory and gratitude was felt at a gathering kindly hosted at Kimpton Church of England Primary School. Speaking before the dedication, Bishop David captured well the affection and respect in which Dr Tomlinson was held; and the representative gathering testified to this. The Bishop offered a remarkable calculation that Ian had probably taken one thousand five hundred assemblies in the thirty seven years, a role for which he was particularly gifted. As governor too he contributed much to the life of the school.”

Headteacher Zoe Newton added: “We are delighted with this lasting memorial and hope that all visitors to the school will enjoy it too.”