London: Peace Car visits inspirational school
A Peace Car in memory of a murdered London teenager paid tribute to the award winning community work of pupils at an east London school yesterday.
The car, named after Jimmy Mizen who was murdered in May 2008, called in at Our Lady’s Convent brand new school building on Stamford Hill on Thursday afternoon. Jimmy Mizen’s parents Barry and Margaret, together with Diane Abbott MP, brought the car to celebrate the positive contribution make by the Hackney students.
Barry Mizen told the students: “I want to say thank you to everyone, you are an inspirational school. Your work has already been recognised by being awarded School of the Year by London Citizens. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts it’s a pleasure to be here.”
He added: “I have brought this car along to say thank you for what you have done and to encourage you to keep on going. If we want to live a better more peaceful more compassionate life it’s down to us. ”
Margaret said: “I want to encourage other teenagers to work to make it safer to make it better, so that Jimmy’s death was not in vain.”
Our Lady’s Convent Headteacher Jane Gray threw down the challenge to the present year 12’s and year 13’s to continue the good work started by the previous 6th form.
Former pupils who were involved in award winning community work with the school were invited back for the event. The pupils won the prestigious London Citizens School of the Year award for their outstanding contribution to justice and the common good. Pupils had worked with local shopkeepers to set up safe zones for vulnerable youngsters, and had championed a living wage for all Olympic Park workers.
Last year Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster toured the local area with Our Lady’s students and praised them for being ‘Ambassadors for Christ’.
His sentiments were echoed earlier this year when the Diocesan Inspection Report (2012) praised the school for being an outstanding school committed to excellence. The report said: “The school’s commitment to action for social justice is outstanding”.