Run for Aston

Aston Stewart, a well-loved member of the local community, sadly passed away on Tuesday 29th November. For twenty+ years, he nurtured our children with absolute and unwavering positivity. We, as a community, want to raise funds to re-develop and dedicate some of our outdoor learning areas to him.

In order to do this, our staff and children will be taking part in various running events to raise funds. The first of these running events will be the Hackney 5k (Saturday 20th May) and the Hackney Half Marathon (Sunday 21st May). The children will also take part in an event during their sports day. The children will also take part in an event during their sports day. 

Children will run a lap of the sports track at Hampstead Heath. They will be cheered on by the rest of our community in remembrance of Aston. We're aiming for over 105 laps. 105 laps are the equivalent of running a whole marathon! All the children in our school have now been sent home with a sponsorship form. Sponsors are able to scan the QR code to donate directly on this page or via cash. You could sponsor 20p a lap or a one-off amount. 

How can I get involved?

We welcome any donations to help raise funds. We would also encourage you to run with us at one of the two Hackney events and ask people to sponsor you. We see this as a community event where everyone has an opportunity to help. The children will also be taking part in their own exciting fund-raising event (details to be announced soon).

If you are interested in taking part, please email the school admin account. Places are limited so act quickly. If you do not want to run, we would value your support on the sidelines. We can't wait to see you there!

Aston’s Impact

Whenever you ask anyone connected to West Hampstead Primary School (formerly Beckford Primary School) what they remember about Aston, it is easy to recall the powerful impact he had on our school community. Whether that be Aston's infectious positivity, dedication to the children, or the genuine kindness he showed everyone, he touched the lives of so many. In addition, the children had the opportunity to work with Aston on what many of them love the most: sport. Sport is where Aston was happiest, and not only did he share this passion with our children, he also taught them some enduring life lessons. No matter the sport, the main theme of his sessions was always respect and inclusivity. There is a reason many of our children would run straight to Aston at the start of any lunch-times.

Outside of school, Aston also spent many years as a youth worker at the Sidings Community Centre, where he contributed so much to many people’s lives, both young and old. Aston loved working with young people so much that he would regularly volunteer to open up at 5am and every Black History Month he would regale young people with tales of his upbringing in Jamaica.

How will we remember Aston at West Hampstead Primary School?

As Aston is synonymous with coaching our children in a variety of sports, we thought it would be fitting to dedicate an area of our outdoor environment to him. However, to do this, we want to make sure that these areas are up to the highest standards so that they are a worthy memorial.

Area One: The Wellbeing Zone.

The importance of our children's mental health and social development was something that Aston always prioritised, and this sentiment lives on amongst our entire staff community. Therefore, we would like to dedicate the 'Wellbeing Zone' to him. We will erect a plaque in remembrance of his contributions to the school. This will be an area for children who may want a more relaxing playtime experience.

The area that is currently known as the 'Jungle Shed' will be repurposed into a usable and soothing area for children to enjoy. It will include a mural and plaque celebrating Aston's life at our school, Astro Turf flooring, plants, benches and floor-to-ceiling mirrors to bring more light into the area. This area will also be used as an outdoor learning classroom to enhance our children's education.

Area Two: The Science Garden

If we are able to come together as a community and raise even more funds, these will be put to excellent use in our ongoing project to re-develop the Science Garden. In doing this, our aim is to open up the space, lay safer flooring and plant a variety of native British trees and plants.

Thank you in advance for all your support - together we will work to achieve a lasting legacy for Aston.