CHILDREN, teachers and family members commemorated an Oxford primary school teacher who died aged 39 by opening a peace garden.

Angela Clare, known by her maiden name of Miss Sloan to children, taught year one pupils at St Aloysius’ School, in Woodstock Road, from 2006 until July 2013. 

She was also a former pupil at the primary school between 1979 and 1983.

Mrs Clare, a non-smoker, was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer in 2013 and died in January this year. 

Pupils created a walled garden, planted with flowers and fruit trees, and a mosaic made of tiles, hand-painted with angels, in her memory.

Six-year-old Frances Watt said: “I painted an angel and the wings were yellow and black and it had a big halo.”

Of Miss Sloan, she said: “She was very nice and I liked her lessons a lot.”

Catalina Barrio Martilotti, seven, said: “Her classes were really fun. The angel I painted had a purple body.”

Headteacher Tom Walker said: “She is very much missed by staff and pupils.”

The memorial project was organised by the school’s parent teacher association.

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