Huntingdon Academy has opened a new memorial garden in honour of Mr. Ian Coates, a much-loved member of staff whose, dedication, and joyful spirit left a lasting imprint on the school and wider community.
Following the deeply tragic events of the Nottingham attacks, the school came together to reflect on how best to remember and celebrate Mr. Coates’ life. Guided by input from his family, colleagues, pupils, and the wider school community, the idea for a garden space was born.
Mr. Coates, who was the site manager at the academy, and fondly known as “Mr. Christmas” for his legendary festive displays, was a passionate advocate for enriching the lives of children, especially those in the heart of the city.
The garden has been brought to life through the dedication of teachers Emma Appleby and Lucy Cousins, affectionately dubbed the school’s “organisation queens.” Working closely with Toni Lee, Project Officer at Nottingham City Council, they coordinated efforts with local businesses eager to contribute to this meaningful cause.
Nestled within the school grounds, the memorial garden offers a peaceful and welcoming space for pupils, staff, and families to reflect, talk, or simply enjoy the beauty of nature. It serves as a quiet retreat where children can read or draw during lunchtime, provides a calm setting for daytime interventions, and offers a comforting place for families to sit at the end of the day.
The garden’s design was led by Neil Northop of Weddles, with creative input from Miro Golias of Miro Photography. It features vibrant flowers, herbs, and fruit, lovingly planted by Teaching Assistant Vikki and Year 6 pupils.
Developing the garden has been a real team effort. A new gardening club, led by Teaching Assistant Miss Ernestine Gerald, will help care for the garden and continue Mr. Coates’ legacy of nurturing young minds and hearts. Miss Gerald has been very busy working with pupils and staff at the school attending to the flowers to ensure they look their best for the opening. Mr Fletcher, the school’s site manager, has been working with his woodwork club to install the hanging baskets.
To help fund the project, the school hosted a joyful summer fair, filled with activities that reflected Mr. Coates’ passions—fishing, football, and fun. Nottingham Forest even lent their support, helping to make the day unforgettable. The event raised significant funds thanks to the generosity of local businesses and the wider community. A particularly touching contribution came from the Coates family, who donated a commemorative bench, gifted by Hilary Dubery.
Huntingdon Academy remains committed to supporting pupils, staff, and Mr. Coates’ family through this time of remembrance, offering this garden as a space for healing, connection, and celebration of a life that brought so much joy.
“The memorial garden has been a true community act of kindness. Local businesses have given their time and resources to help us create this special space. We are so very proud of the garden and grateful to everyone who made it possible including Olympian Homes, RG Group, Jacob Heaton, RS Civils, Bowkirk Joinery, Smith Painters and Go Green – we really could not have done it without them. Mr Coates continues to be in our hearts and minds and the love still shines strong as we continue his legacy.”
