Mum calls for daughter's memorial stone to be returned

Wednesday 03 August 2022

The mother of a “bubbly” school teacher who passed away after struggles with her mental health is appealing for her missing memorial stone to be returned.

Cassie Porter, who died in 2020, was an "exuberant" and "outgoing" Year 1 teacher at Rouge Bouillon who joined the school after three years spent abroad in Thailand.

Upon her return to the island, Cassie made an instant impact on both her students and the wider Jersey community.

Since Cassie passed away, her mum, Carol, has been maintaining a bunch of yellow flowers which are located alongside a painted memorial stone at Cassie's favourite place at the back of Gorey Castle.

Cassie's mum Carol regularly visits the special spot to remember her daughter. However when she returned from holiday last week, she noticed that the memorial stone placed there was missing.

After contacting the company who maintains the area and confirming that they hadn't moved it, she issued an appeal on Facebook as she believe someone may have taken the painted stone by accident.

Carol said: "I've had a offers from a few people who said they will repaint the stone, but the lady who had the original stone painted was the mother of a young boy who Cassie used to tutor during the summer holidays so it's really special.

"Of course I will have to get a new one painted if the original isn't returned, but I'd like to give it a few weeks first as there's a chance someone took it by mistake and will put it back once they realise."

For the past two years, Cassie's friends and family have also been campaigning to have a ‘talking bench’ placed in this spot as a permanent way to remember her as well as helping others feel less alone.

Talking benches are found all over the UK and are places where sharing company and conversation is encouraged which is especially useful for people who are feeling alone and isolated.

Cassie's mum, Carol added: "I think this is so important as nobody, not even me, had any idea Cassie was struggling. She was the most happy and outgoing person, and would always encourage others to talk about their feelings"

Pictured: Cassie's mum has maintained a bunch of yellow flowers at Cassie's favourite spot in Gorey for the past two years.

Cassie's family and friend would like to install the talking bench at her "happy place" the back of Gorey Castle where Cassie loved to sit and swim.

However, this area is owned by the Public but administered by Jersey Heritage. As a Grade 1 Listed site, planning permission would need to be sought. 

In addition, Jersey Heritage advised of another hurdle - that the Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Departments have a policy of not allowing new memorial benches - and offered to meet Cassie's mum to discuss a potential alternative way of remembering Cassie.

Cassie's family say that, if a bench is permitted, they are willing to pay for it and its lifetime maintenance. Carol is also suggesting a compromise of having a bench installed in the area for five or 10 years instead of permanently. 

She added: "I wrote to the Connétable of St. Martin, Karen Shenton-Stone, and she has offered me different locations but they mean nothing to me. The back of the castle where Cassie used to swim was her happy place. Myself and her family and friends would love a place to sit and remember Cassie’s good times."

Pictured: Cassie's friend, Tom Stead, has also organised multiple Run for Cass events over the past two years to remember the school teacher and to raise money for charity.

When recently visiting the back of Gorey Caste, Carol noticed that someone had recently added a hammock and a seating area to the location.

She expressed her dismay that her request for a bench through the "proper channels" had been denied, but no one had objected or even noticed that people had placed these items at the spot without permission.

Pictured: A seat and a hammock have recently been placed at the area where Carol has been trying to get a memorial bench placed.

Carol has been informed that St. Martin's Honorary Police have been alerted and will be removing the seat and hammock, but her continued requests for a talking bench have still not been met with success.

For now, her focus is on trying to get the painted memorial stone returned. If anyone has any information, they can contact her via Facebook.