Both current and former pupils, staff and parents paid their respects to our late Head of Learning Enrichment, Sarah Codacci-Pisanelli, in two special school memorial services.
Our Upper Prep and Seniors/Sixth Form schools both held individual assemblies to honour Sarah - former Harrodian parent, Parents Association member and employee/colleague.
Reverend Peter Hardie and Ms Clair Foster led a smaller and more informal service in the Theatre for Upper Prep pupils, during which they both shared memories of Sarah and referred to the passing of time with reference to Ecclesiastes 'A Time for Everything.' Video messages were shown that featured pupils talking about how they had known Mrs Codacci, including a previous winner of the Codacci-Pisanelli cup for football and sportsmanship, who spoke about what the award meant to him.
Captain Rob Stewart organised a formal service in the Marquee for our Senior/Sixth Form pupils and the eighty or so external guests including our current and former parents/staff and alumni who attended, as well as Sarah's husband Giulio and their three sons - Cosimo, Riccardo and Matteo. There were readings and shared memories from parents and both current/former staff.
Headmaster Mr Hooke recounted some funny stories and anecdotes about Sarah at Harrodian but also spoke in a heartfelt way about how much she had meant to him and the School.
Lower Sixth Former Artemis was incredibly brave to open her heart at both services and share her personal feelings of devastation at the passing of her teacher and friend, Mrs Codacci.
She was an unforgettable person and will always be remembered as my family. I’ll never forget her.
Artemis, Lower Sixth Former
To read what Artemis had to say in full, please see a copy of her speech below:
There were emotive musical performances delivered by Rose in our 12s, who sung a beautiful rendition of 'Turn, Turn, Turn,' by the Byrds in both assemblies, Sophia (15s) who played 'Gabriel's Oboe' from The Mission in the Upper Prep service and Alexandra (L6) who sung Keane's 'Somewhere Only We Know,' to our Senior School.
Our current Head of Learning Enrichment Ms Ruth Andrews also shared her memories of Sarah as a line manager and colleague in a moving tribute. A copy of her speech can be found by clicking HERE.
No matter who you were – pupil, parent, colleague, Sarah would listen and just be there – offering advice and support when needed, she would calmly reassure and encourage, or provide help when problems needed to be solved.
Head of Learning Enrichment Ms Ruth Andrews
Sarah's husband, Giulio, was particularly moved by the high numbers of external guests that came to the Senior Memorial service and very grateful to Harrodian for organising such a heartfelt gathering.
Thank you so much from myself and the boys for arranging such a wonderful memorial for Sarah, she would have been overwhelmed and enormously happy to have received such a show of affection and recognition.
Giulio, Sarah Codacci-Pisanelli's husband
An end of service collection for the Norfolk Hospice, a charity that looked after Sarah in her final days, raised a total of £700. Thank you to everyone who attended and for their kind contributions.
To read our website tribute to Sarah, please click HERE.