Dear Parents and Carers,

On 12^th August 2024, we shared the sad news with you about the loss of our dedicated, dynamic and longstanding Head Teacher, Mrs Sue Ferguson, on Saturday 10th August, after a courageous battle with cancer.

We now have confirmation of her funeral date which will be on Thursday 12th September, 2024. Please note that attendance of Mrs Ferguson’s funeral is currently invitation only. There will be a future opportunity for us to come together as a school community to honour and celebrate her life, in agreement with the wishes of her family.

This means that Ellen Wilkinson Primary School and Little Ellies Nursery will be CLOSED for ALL pupils and staff on Thursday 12th September, to allow for our staff to attend her funeral and pay our last respects. Some of our staff worked with Mrs Ferguson through most or all of her 20 year headship tenure at our school.

I am sure you join us at this sad time in passing on condolences to her family and to Mark Ferguson, her husband.

As mentioned in our email last week, there will be the opportunity for parents to come to school on Wednesday 4^th September at either 8:45 – 9:45am or 2.15 – 3.15pm to complete an online condolence message and share pictures you may have taken with Mrs Ferguson, if you wish to do so. This will take place in our school studio on site. If you are unable to attend, the virtual memorial page can be contributed to from the link below.

Virtual memorial page (Click HERE)

Please note we are not receiving flowers and neither is the family. If you would also like to make a donation to one of Mrs Ferguson’s chosen charities: St Luke's Hospice OR Friends at Royal Marsden please use the links below. All links are also available on the school’s website.

• Friends at Marsden (Click HERE)
• St Luke’s Hospice Basildon (Click HERE)

Kind regards 

Janice Owen-Amadasun
Acting Head teacher