Dear Parents and Carers,
I’m writing to share some incredibly sad and shocking news with you.
On Monday night, we lost a hugely important and loved member of our St Pauls Team.
Lydia Greenslade, one of our Early years Practitioner died in the BRI from acute and severe pancreatitis with her parents and husband Sam by her side.
Needless to say, our whole team are devastated, in shock, and are finding this news very hard to process.
Lydia has been with us at St Pauls for over 13 years, she has worked right across our centre: in the baby room, with the 2s team, supported holiday club and was a key person and lead practitioner in Nursery School.
She is one of our longest standing staff members, who was at the heart of St Pauls, and was the most incredible intuitively brilliant practitioner, she just magically knew how to meet the needs of children and families. She was invitational, safe, supporting, creative, loving and fun. A consummate professional, who modelled great practice to us all. We learnt at her feet.
Lydia welcomed little Jasper, her first baby in July, and was due to return to us in the summer at the end of her maternity leave. We were so looking forward to having her back on the team, losing her so suddenly is almost unimaginable.
Our heart goes out to Lydia’s family.
To her parents, brother Fred, partner Sam and her beautiful baby Jasper. We know they are a close family and have the support of each other and Lydia’s many, many friends, and we add to this, as Lydia was part of our own special St Pauls Family.
As a team we will need to process this sudden and heart-breaking loss over the next few weeks, and months.
We will be celebrating Lydia and honouring her in ways that feel appropriate, with her family in mind. But right now, we need to sit alongside each other as a team and be calm, connected and safe together as we work through our collective trauma.
Our team are remarkable, they have showed up and continue to be fully present for your children despite the shock.
As our wise Chair of Governors said – ‘to close would be a mark of respect, but to carry on doing what she loved is a mark of love’.
They are here, showing their love and commitment, but please can I ask you to be sensitive and supportive to them at this very sad time.
Lydia was a great friend to many of us, and an exceptional member of our team. She loved our St Pauls Community, and was our greatest advocate. She was young, healthy, loved, brilliant and adored being a new Mum. Words cannot describe how upsetting it is to lose her.
She made a HUGE difference to the world and left her legacy with all the children and families she has supported over the years, and all the practitioners who observed her practice, and felt her kindness and warmth.
Rest in peace, gorgeous Lydia.
Love and respect,
Lucy Driver OBE
Executive Headteacher and Strategic Lead
St Pauls Nursery School and Central Bristol Children’s Centre
