A NEW outdoor classroom donated in memory of a much-loved member of staff has been opened at Ballard School in New Milton.

Caroline Gray, school registrar and headmaster’s PA, died suddenly in March and her family has since made the generous donation to the school.

The motto for the classroom is “Enjoy the sunshine”, a phrase associated with Mrs Gray.

Mrs Gray’s husband, Stuart, performed an opening ceremony in front of family members, pupils and staff.

Mrs Gray has been described as a vibrant person who lived life to the full and the classroom has been designed to represent her enthusiasm for the outdoors and for Ballard School.

It will be used both for learning and for reflection.

Headmaster Alastair Reid said, ‘We are extremely grateful to Stuart Gray and the Gray family for donating the classroom and I am really pleased that it incorporates some of Caroline’s spirit in the location and the design.

“I am looking forward to using it and I know the children are too.”

Ballard is a co-educational school for children between the ages of 2 to 16 and pictured are children from the pre prep, lower prep, upper prep and senior departments.

The opening ceremony took place just before the annual Harvest Festival assembly and the new outdoor classroom was decorated with produce that had been donated to the New Forest Basics Bank.