ANNIE KIRK, of Broadlands, Shaldon, writes: I'm writing partly as mum of Helen Kirk and partly on behalf of The Helen Foundation, to thank the young people of Teignmouth Community College who have just sent a cheque for £100 to the foundation, raised by the students themselves at the end of last term. The Student Council themselves chose The Helen Foundation as a charity of choice for their collection, which came from a non-uniform day. To me, though, this gesture epitomises the love and care shown by the whole community throughout these past four months since Helen died after a car accident on Boxing Day. Right from the start of the ordeal of loss we have felt – and still feel – the sense of being in a giant supportive 'hug' and this not least from those young people who knew me as the librarian of the college up until exactly a year ago, when I retired. It has been wonderful to see how those youngsters can respond with a maturity and a warmth which maybe many people would not credit them with. Many stop me in the street to ask how we are, they care enough to give me a physical hug and to express their own feelings. If I didn't fully realise when I worked at Teignmouth Community College how very special these youngsters are, then I certainly do now.
