Haslingden pupils plant orchard in memory of tragic Ella Stringer (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Haslingden pupils plant orchard in memory of tragic Ella Stringer

10:41am Friday 2nd December 2011 in Haslingden By Vanessa Cornall, Reporter

CLASSMATES of a five-year-old youngster who died from a rare form of cancer have helped to plant a fruit orchard in her memory.

Pupil’s in Year One at Broadway Primary School, in Haslingden joined forces with the Friends of Victoria Park to create a lasting tribute to Ella Stringer.

Little Ella lost her battle with rhabdoid sarcoma, a rare form of cancer in August.

Her classmates donned their wellies and planted an array of fruit trees including apple and plum trees in Victoria Park yesterday.

Tracy Peace, secretary of the Friends of Victoria Park said: “We applied for some funding for the fruit orchard some time ago and after the Friends heard about little Ella passing we thought it would be a fitting tribute.

“We discovered Ella had lost her battle from a couple of our members who have children at the school.

“The Mayor of Rossendale, Coun Gladys Sandiford planted the first tree and then each of Ella’s 29 sch-ool friends planted their tree afterwards and put their little name cards around them.

"It was a really lovely day and all the children had a great time remembering Ella.”

Ella’s devoted family including mum Emily, 22, her partner electrician Tony Waller, and little sister Evie, of Rosewood Avenue, Haslingden were unable to make the tree planting ceremony.

Paul Stanley, headteacher of Haslingden’s Broadway Primary School described Ella as a delightful little girl who was always happy and showing a lovely smile.

He said: “Ella was a very clever and popular pupil who will be missed by everyone involved with the school.”