School raises funds for the RNLI in memory of a pupil who loved Lyme Regis

School children have raised £1,503 for the RNLI in memory of an 11-year-old girl who loved Lyme Regis.

Rosie Perry Jones was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in April this year.

Tragically, she died in August just days before she was due to start at West Bridgford School, Nottingham.

In November the school held a non-uniform day, with a seaside theme, sold cakes and held a number of other activities to raise funds for Lyme Regis RNLI.

Angela Clarke, who provides pastoral support for year seven pupils at the school, wrote to the Lyme Regis lifeboat volunteers to tell them about their fundraising efforts and why they decided the money should go to them.

She said: “Rosie had very happy memories of Lyme Regis and loved the lifeboat. We wanted to do something in her memory so we chose your well-deserved charity and your station for the donation.”

Rosie’s two sisters, Jess, 14, and Millie, 16, go to the school and their mother Diane said: “ We have been coming to Lyme Regis for lifeboat week or carnival week for many years, and Rosie and her sisters loved it.”

The family plan to visit Lyme again in the New Year and are in touch with the town council to arrange for a plaque in Rosie’s memory and a memorial tree.

In the meantime the lifeboat crew are planning to send a special message of thanks to staff and pupils at the school.

Volunteer lifeboat operations manager Nick Marks said: “This is a very moving gesture on behalf of the school, and we are very grateful to everyone for thinking of our lifeboat charity in this way.”