THE memory of a woman at the heart of a primary school for almost two decades will live on - after a new school facility was opened in her memory.

Former teaching assistant, governor, supervisor and fundraiser Avril Barker lost her battle with cancer in 2016 at the age of 48.

Prior to her death she had been instrumental in raising the money for a new library at Brook Street Primary School.

She was part of the team who had worked tirelessly to raise £11,000 to open a library, with teachers deciding to name the new facility after Avril.

Everyone who knew her spoke of her passion for books, and she could often be found reading to pupils in her role as teaching assistant.

Avril had been involved with the Edward Street school right up until her death, having first come into contact with it about 18 years earlier, when her youngest child started at nursery.

Avril was involved in various projects to help transform the learning experience for pupils, including the creation of story sacks to accompany books that children at the school were reading and a fruit tuck shop.

The sacks contained anything related to the book the children were reading, and were invaluable in bringing the story to life.

Even after becoming ill, Avril continued to help out in whatever way she could.

Deputy head at the school Lucy Meyers, worked with Avril.

She said: “Avril always read in the corridors to the children; she really promoted the love of reading through her work.

“She did a lot of fundraising for the school, and raised a lot of money over the years.

“We thought the libary was the perfect way to remember her: giving children the gift of reading. She would have really supported that.”

Mrs Meyers continued: “Children need to realise that you don’t always need to read on a screen, they can get satisfaction from picking up a book and turning the pages.”

It is hoped that the library will preserve the memory of Avril for future generations of students.

“It was a way of keeping her memory alive,” Mrs Meyers explained. “Avril was a member of St John’s Church (St John The Evangelist) on London Road and they came on Friday and loved the library.”

Avril’s husband Neil and son’s Steven and Adam also came to the opening.

Mrs Meyers added: “Avril was such a family-orientated person. Even when she was fundraising, her husband Neil and her sons were always rafted in to help.

“You would have Adam and Steve helping out with beat the goalkeeper, while Neil would always help out - he still comes into the school for a coffee.”

Headteacher Jonathan Bursnall said: “Sadly Avril passed away a month after I started. She was a parent, a teacher, she had so many connections to the school. The impression I got is that she was a lovely person.”

School business manager Geraldine Haughan added: “It was our loss when we no longer had her, she was a massive part of the school, she did everything. She did everything that was asked of her.”