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Teacher's Legacy Lives On: Library Opens for Students
12 Feb
Summary
- A new school library honors a former teacher who died from cancer.
- Parents and pupils raised nearly £3,000 to create the library space.
- The library aims to foster a love of reading, a passion of the late teacher.
A new school library has opened at The Forest View Academy, a tribute to the late Ruth Harrison, former principal, who passed away from cancer in July 2026. Harrison, who served the Ollerton, Nottinghamshire school for over 16 years, envisioned a dedicated space for children to immerse themselves in books.
Her dream has now been realized thanks to the dedication of parents and pupils. They successfully raised almost £3,000 through various fundraising efforts, including a sponsored spell. This significant sum enabled the transformation of an old classroom into a welcoming library, equipped with new books, shelving, and comfortable seating.
Harrison was diagnosed with aggressive cancer in April 2025 and sadly died at the age of 47. Her colleague, Amy Leaning, who is the school's reading lead, spearheaded the refurbishment. Leaning expressed that the project's success was entirely due to the community's heartfelt donations, reflecting Harrison's profound impact on families and her unwavering belief in the power of reading as an escape for children.
