OSBASTON Church in Wales School bade a fond farewell to one of their spiritual leaders last Wednesday, 10th October.

Father David McGladdery visited the school for the last time to lead the whole school’s assembly and shared his memories and reflections of his time in Monmouth and especially those times he spent with the school.

He announced in August he was leaving the Monmouth Group of Parishes to join the Anglican church of the Holy Trinity with St Edmund in Horfield, Bristol.

He had a unique bond with Osbaston School and performed many ceremonies in the school, one of them being Ms Nicky Millard’s confirmation, the first ceremony of its kind done in a school. She is a Year 2 teacher and known now as Mrs Beaven, and was present at the final service, along with many other children who were baptised in school assemblies.

As well as pictures of the ceremonies, Father David showed pictures of Christian life within the school, including harvest.

He finished by saying that although he was looking forward to the new challenges ahead, he was very sad to be leaving Monmouth after 30 years and would cherish the memories of his time spent in Osbaston.

Headteacher Catherine Jones gave Father David a small present from the school and said that he had provided “invaluable guidance, support, care and compassion to our whole school community over the last 10 years.

“He will be sorely missed by us all at Osbaston Church in Wales School.” 

Shonagh Hay, Chair of the governors added that he was an “exceptional, warm and dedicated vicar who is loved by children, staff and the governing body, we will all miss him very much.”

On Monday 24th October, Osbaston School will be joined by Overmonnow School in planting hundreds of purple crocus bulbs in their school grounds as part of the global Purple4Polio campaign. The bulbs will be supplied by Monmouth Rotary Club.