Remembering a star teacher
HUNDREDS of people attended a moving celebration of the life of Cavendish School deputy head Andy Sibson who died last month.
Mr Sibson, pictured, known as Sibbo, suffered a massive heart attack and died during a football match just two days before his 52nd birthday.
On Wednesday night almost 600 people packed the school hall in Eldon Road for a celebration of his life.
They included former members of staff Arthur Cornell, Lester Miller, Paul Dudson and Martin Relf, past pupils, friends and acquaintances as well as Mr Sibson's wife Ruth and his children Amy and Luke.
The service began with the song All the Young Dudes by Mott the Hoople, Mr Sibson's favourite group.
Close friends Kenny Fitzpatrick, who is the head at Cavendish, former head Mark Dawkins, Bob Coombe, colleague Peter Midwinter and brother-in-law John Lambert all paid moving and at times funny tributes to Mr Sibson, who had worked at Cavendish for more than 25 years and was described as 'a talented all-round sportsman, a dedicated teacher, husband and father, inspirational, a marvellous friend and fantastic role model who loved people and the children he taught'.
Mr Coombe said, "A bright and shining light has gone out in all our lives but he will live on forever through our memories."
Nicky Thomas from Eastbourne Volleyball Club, which Mr Sibson started, and Chris Pinch also paid tribute to Mr Sibson's sporting achievements.
The evening also featured musical performances by well-known musician David Ford, a former Cavendish pupil, and Cavendish School music students, who performed their own version of All The Young Dudes, and videos and photographs of Mr Sibson, an avid Leicester City Football Club fan, were shown on a giant screen throughout the service.
At the end of the service Mr Fitzpatrick said pupils at the school, who held their own memorial celebration in the afternoon, had all been supportive towards each other and staff.
He said pupils had 'bought' a star and named it after Mr Sibson and the certificate of ownership had arrived that morning.
"Yes, a light has gone out in all our lives, but rest assured his memory and spirit will live on," added Mr Fitzpatrick.
"We now have the Star of Sibson but it will never replace Sibson the Star."
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Weather for St Leonards-on-Sea
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
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Light sleet showers
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