A Tribute to Ethan Waite

Our school community has come together to honour the memory of Ethan Waite, a lovely Year 5 boy who sadly passed away last year.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, funds were raised to create an amazing Gruffalo sculpture in Ethan’s memory. Chainsaw carver Dave Lucas, was moved by our story and kindly offered to carve the sculpture at a significantly reduced cost.

Dave also shared Ethan’s story with his local primary school in Manchester, inspiring children there to take part in this special tribute. Each pupil carved their name into one of the Gruffalo’s prickles, which Dave then attached to the sculpture. This remarkable act truly shows the power of community and embodies our school’s motto: Kindness Matters. 

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to this meaningful project, including our generous donors, Dave Lucas, and the pupils who helped make Ethan’s Gruffalo so special.

A tribute to Ethan

Stacey Read, Headteacher, shares her tribute: "Ethan was a boy who loved adventure and excitement. Everyone knew him because he made it his business to know and greet everyone.

His enthusiasm for all his interests was such a joy and everyone at Evendons - staff and children alike - can recall a conversation or a time we spent with him and how he engaged us and made us smile.

He had a special place in his heart for the Gruffalo, a story he loved so much. Whether he was listening to the tale, reading the book, or hunting for the character in the school grounds, Ethan's eyes would light up with wonder and delight every time he heard about the mouse’s clever tricks and the Gruffalo’s surprising friendship.

Ethan showed us how to find joy in the things we love. He taught us to be brave, to dream big, and to embrace every adventure with a smile. If there were things he was unsure of, he had his own way of asking questions and then overcoming these fears - a lesson to us all. We will keep Ethan’s spirits alive in our hearts by sharing our passions and making every day an adventure."

You can see Ethan's little sister and his mum Hayley in the pictures below.

Ethan's Gruffalo