Tributes paid to ‘incredibly kind and generous’ Peterborough teacher as thousands of pounds raised in his honour

Andrew Currie (34) passed away last month after a battle with his own mental health.

He was born in Kirkcaldy in Fife, Scotland in 1986 to parents Jean and Bill but the family moved to Werrington the same year and have made Peterborough their home ever since.

Andrew had a passion for teaching and spent almost the entirety of his professional career dedicating himself to improving the education provision in the city. After graduating from Lancaster University in 2004 and then qualifying as a teacher he began work at Fulbridge Primary School in 2005 and continued there right up until last year.

In 2016, he also helped set up Teach East and acted as a SCITT (School-centred initial teacher training) Director, where he was responsible for training over 200 teachers, further making his mark on the education landscape of the city.

This role also saw him work closely with Arthur Mellows Village College, the school he attended as a teenager.  Away from work he loved his music and his sports, sharing a love of Bolton Wanderers with his family, and he had a circle of very close and loyal friends.

His brother Anthony said: “Andrew had the ability to connect with people on a personal level and make them feel special. He was incredibly kind and generous who was always willing to put others first.

“It was a great shame that he was never able to see himself the way others saw him, for all his many strengths and qualities

“He was very passionate about education and creating opportunities for young people and that was the driving force of his professional career. He was a really innovative and progresive educator in thinking about what a curriculum could be and helped redesign the one taught at Fulbridge which I believe they are going to name after him.

“I know that he is sorely missed by his colleagues but it is incredible to see that his legacy is continuing.” Friends, family and colleagues alike have been keen to keep Andrew’s memory alive and have started a variety of fundraising efforts in his honour.

Colleagues from Fulbridge, including Tom Erskine (a life-long friend), Alison Barnes and Principal Ben Erskine, have undertaken to run 50 miles in the month of January to raise money for mental health charity MIND. Combined with the donations the family have received, the total raised on the JustGiving page already totals more than £12,000 (including Gift Aid) from over 500 individual donations.

Friends in Werrington have also successfully raised £1500 to have a memorial bench placed at Cuckoo’s Hollow for Andrew. Andrew’s house backed onto the nature reserve and he loved walking in the area with his beloved partner Nat and their dogs Oakley and Musa and to spend time and share conversations with many people he befriended from his local community. .

Anthony added: “These fundraising efforts are a great testament to Andrew.

“We as a family were more than happy to combine our efforts with his colleagues at Fulbridge to do something positive in his name to support a mental health charity and particularly one that helps young men.

“The bench is also a great idea. The area is a place we grew up in and have so many great memories. Hopefully with the bench people will have a place to sit, reflect, contemplate things and hopefully find peace.

“We are incredibly thankful for all of the support from friends, colleagues and people far and wide, there has been a real ripple effect and sense of connection from the wider community and beyond.”

To visit Brett Mackenzie’s memorial bench fundraiser click here.

To visit Fulbridge Academy’s 50 mile walk fundraiser click here.

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