A MEMORIAL garden dedicated to the memory of former George Ward School pupils who have passed away since leaving the school has been unveiled at Melksham Oak School.

At a ceremony on Tuesday evening, the families of Michelle Phillips, Joanne Hiscocks and Philip Mitchel joined teachers and governors to dedicate a grove of apple trees to their memory.

Headteacher Steve Clark said a few words during the ceremony, as well as the school’s attached vicar Jill Perrett.

Three of the dozen apple trees now have plaques dedicated to each of the three former pupils.

Mr Clark said: “It was a wonderful ceremony to remember and commemorate, with their families here, the lives of those pupils who have sadly passed away since leaving George Ward.”

Melksham Oak opened last year, replacing the George Ward School on the other side of town. The school felt it would be a nice gesture to do something to remember former George Ward pupils at the new school, with the small orchard as a tribute.

The school plans to dedicate the remaining trees in the orchard to other students or teachers in the future.

Owen Vince, assistant deputy headteacher at the school, said: “It was important to recognise that now we’ve moved away to Melksham Oak rather than George Ward we carried forward their memory.

“To one side of the school is the Year 7 garden area, and there is a nice bit of grass with a mini orchard. We thought that would be a cracking place to dedicate the trees to the memory of ex-students.

“It was a really nice, warm, friendly celebration and commemoration.”

On the same evening an oak tree in the grounds was dedicated with a plaque to the outgoing chairman of governors, Christine Deadman, who is stepping down after overseeing the transition to the new school. She will be succeeded by Ruth Gillings.