Memories of a much-loved teacher will continue to flourish in school memorial garden

A memorial garden at Papdale Primary School is being created in memory of a much-loved teacher, colleague and friend, Mrs Irene Drever. 

Mrs Drever sadly passed away at the end of March but pupils, staff and the wider community will ensure her memory lives on with a special garden area and “Mrs Drever’s Blethering Bench.” 

Class Teacher, Michelle Kennedy, said: “At the start of this term the Primary 7 pupils began to recall memories from their primary school years as a part of their leaver's assembly preparations. 

“These memories featured Mrs Drever from their younger years. Our project this term is linked in with Orkney Native Wildlife Project which all schools in Orkney have been tapping into in their own way. 

“We'd initially begun looking at the school playground and the species of plants we have growing here already. Given many memories recalled time spent with Mrs Drever at the ‘secret garden,’ we decided to tie in her love of being outdoors, how we could look at plants in our local environment and also how we could improve our playground space.” 

With the blessing of the Drever family, primaries 7E, 7M ad 6/7S have been working to create the special area where anyone can have a sit down, a blether, or quiet thoughts, whilst admiring nature around about. 

One previous pupil of Mrs Drever's from each class cut the first turf, the flower beds have been dug out, the bench has been restored and painted, and planters are underway. 

Names for the area were suggested and Irene’s husband, Andrew, picked “Mrs Drever’s Blethering Bench” as being the one that seemed most apt. 

Mrs Kennedy added: “The children have used a range of skills including making scale drawings of the area we're working on. They've made plans which we've pulled together, and we've tried to use ideas from all the bairns.  

“We've had support from many local folk and businesses with donations of topsoil, wood, plants, paint and offers of help too. The children have enjoyed restoring a bench for the area alongside our wonderful janitors. The project has really brought people together which I know Mrs Drever would have loved. 

“It's a really special location in the heart of the playground and I know the children will enjoy sitting on "Mrs Drever's Blethering Bench". It'll be an ongoing project where we'll need to maintain the area so stories of Mrs Drever will continue to be shared.” 

A special thank you must go to Calvin Wilson Construction and Groundworks for donating one tonne of screened topsoil and delivering this directly into the playground. Thanks also to R. Clouston Ltd, R.S. Rendall and B.& L. Builders for donating wood used to construct the planters. The school is also very appreciative of everyone who has donated plants and offers of help. 

Andrew said: “The family are overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness and kindness of Irene’s past pupils for coming up with the idea of a memorial garden and to the staff and wider community for taking on the challenge of making it all come together. 

“It was super to be at the school helping the bairns paint the planter boxes and digging holes for the plants to be placed into.  It’s looking great already, and I’m convinced Irene would have loved the Blethering Bench as it, and the whole area, will bring folk together in friendship.”