THE devastated parents of a little boy who died suddenly on New Year's Eve say they were "moved to tears" when his school organised a memorial bench, tree and garden to be put up in their grounds in his memory.
Oscar Scott was a cheeky, cheery three-year-old boy from Sutton who loved nothing better than playing with his big brother Lucas and spending time with mum Lyndsey-Ann, 33, and dad Adrian.
However, shortly after Christmas day he was rushed to hospital with an induced wheeze and was let out a couple of days later with his parents being told he was now fine.
But on December 31, he died of a cardiac arrest.
Oscar
As well as leaving behind a heartbroken family, Oscar had also touched the hearts of many of his pre-school friends at Sherdley Primary School, as well as the teaching staff.
After hearing what happened they decided to do something lasting in his memory.
Oscar's dad Adrian, 39, said: "We were just left in utter shock when Oscar died, we were not expecting it and didn't know how to break it to the school.
"But they have decided to do in his memory has just moved us to tears really and they need credit for how wonderful they have been."
The school decided to raise funds to pay for a memorial bench, tree and raised platform to be made in Oscar's memory, but to make it extra special, they asked their friends at Sutton Academy to get the students there involved as well as the staff.
Oscar's school friends on his memorial bench
Adrian said: "We have been absolutely devastated by what happened to Oscar and telling the school was horrible, so to have them do this for Oscar feels to us like his memory will live on.
"It has been really helpful for his older brother Lucas as well, he's only seven and he's found it difficult.
"But tending to the garden they have and sitting on the bench for Oscar makes him feel close to his little brother.
His friends in front of his memorial tree
"It's helped Oscar's classmates too to understand it and the school even told us we can come by and sit on his bench if we want to as well.
"It just means everything to us and has been a real comfort. Thank you so much to all the staff involved. What an amazing school."
Emma McDonald, Oscar's pre-school teacher at Sherdley Primary, added: "We were so upset when we found out that Oscar had passed and wanted to do something to create a lasting memorial for him.
"One of the school governors is from Sutton Academy so they decided they would make it if we paid for it which is amazing because it's specially made.
The raised platform in memory of Oscar
"We also planted a little garden for Oscar and planted a Scott tree after his surname in his memory and we have the bench and raised platform which the students can use to play on as well.
"Losing Oscar was really hard, I've been teaching nine years and it's the most upsetting thing I've faced, but it's good how we have created a space to remember him so the children can understand you can still feel close to someone even when they are not here anymore."
Oscar
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here