Rainham school hold fundraiser for ‘captain of the ship’ who died after cancer battle

The “captain of the ship” at a Rainham school was remembered and celebrated during a day of fundraising last week.

Much-loved Brady Primary School headteacher Trevor Bradbury passed away just before Christmas after a long battle with cancer.

But children and staff from the Wennington Road school continued to remember their leader of 18 years on Friday with a non-uniform day and a variety of fun activities, including a cake sale.

In the afternoon, a tea party was held for parents, with all cash raised going towards a permanent memorial to Mr Bradbury at the school.

In addition, Year 6 pupil, Jay Hopping, had his head shaved for St Francis Hospice, which supported Mr Bradbury and his family in his final days. A spokesman for the teachers said: “Working for Trevor is what made Brady Primary such an enjoyable and rewarding place to work because he truly valued his staff and the work of our volunteers, he devoted an endless amount of time and energy into making the children feel special and cared for too. Trevor would say it’s a team effort – and it was, but he was the captain of the ship.

“A child once asked him: ‘Do you have any children Mr Bradbury?’ To which he replied: ‘Yes, I’ve got 194 at the moment’ - the number on the school roll.”

Trevor qualified as a teacher in 1976 and was appointed Brady’s deputy headteacher in 1990 before being made its chief in 1995.

A spokesman for the school’s governors said: “He was much-loved and will be missed by all students, parents, staff and governors. Generations of students will continue to hold him in the highest esteem and will thank him as the chief architect of the great education that they received from the school.

“Brady is aware of the very great respect and love in which Trevor was held by so many people in the Rainham community and beyond and that there is significant interest in some form of lasting memorial to him.”