Hundreds of youngsters will pay tribute to their head teacher this week while raising money for charity.
Caroline Thomson, the head at Cornhill Primary School in Aberdeen, died after an “inspirational” 18-month battle with cancer. She was just 38.
Now pupils, teachers and parents at the school are preparing for a sponsored walk in her memory on Friday – the day before her birthday – to raise money for Clan.
Last night, Mrs Thomson was described as “good to the core” by her husband David.
The mother-of-two, from Portlethen, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2014 but was determined to keep life as normal as possible and continued to work – and volunteer for ChildLine – right through her chemotherapy.
It was only when doctors insisted she take time off to recover from her mastectomy that she stayed away from the school – which her husband described as her “third child” – but she was back in January last year, as soon as her radiotherapy had finished.
Hopeful that she had beaten the disease, Mrs Thomson and her husband took sons Callum, 12, and Robbie, nine, to Florida at Easter to enjoy some quality time together.
Mr Thomson said: “It was carefree because we thought she was a survivor – we thought she had beaten it. It was not just a holiday of a lifetime, it was the holiday of a new lifetime. It was just the best.”
But on the first day of the summer holidays, Mrs Thomson got a sore head, which gradually became worse.
She convinced herself that the cancer was back and she was proved right when a scan showed there was a mass on her brain.
She underwent surgery to remove the tumour in August 2015, but doctors gave her the heartbreaking news that she only had a year to live.
More gruelling radiotherapy followed, but in October Mrs Thomson became seriously ill and her family – including parents Ian and Lorraine and sister and brother Shona and Alastair – were told to prepare for the worst as the tumour was back and inoperable.
She fought back however, and after doctors indicated it would only be a matter of months, Mrs Thomson threw herself into making memories with her boys and set herself the target of seeing in Christmas.
“We knew then it was just a matter of time,” Mr Thomson said. “But Caroline’s favourite saying was ‘it is what it is’.
“She was very philosophical, and it was all about making the most of the time with the boys while still letting them live their lives and go to their football our outside to play.”
Mrs Thomson was devoted to her two boys, and loved organising day trips during the holidays – or taking them to Dons games or wrestling – or hiding cryptic advent clues around the house.
Shortly before she became ill, the former Peterhead Academy pupil and her husband had considered expanding their family through adoption or fostering, and had been in the process of investigating respite care for youngsters.
Mr Thomson – who met his wife 18 years ago – said: “She loved Cornhill, it was her life – there’s no doubt about it. The school was her third child, she never stopped thinking about that place.
“But I think she wanted to do more, and be there for kids outwith school as well in school – if she had her way there would have been 15 kids coming home with her.
“The more I think about her and speak about her, you see she was just good to the core.”
Mr Thomson thanked Portlethen Medical Centre, Clan and the various departments at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary who looked after his wife until she died last month.
He added: “She was just my rock.
“It’s not just going to be us that miss her – I’ve had parents of Robbie’s pals saying they look for her at Asda or at football training, she touched a whole lot of people.”
‘Greatly missed by pupils, parents and staff’
A minute’s silence will be held for Mrs Thomson before the youngsters at Cornhill Primary set off on their walk.
She spent her whole career at the school, becoming head in 2010, and was a well-known, distinctive character – helped by the bright red streaks through her dark hair.
On Friday, youngsters will remember her colourful spirit by wearing something red as they trek down to Westburn Park and back.
Acting head Mark Evans said several classes were working to compile memory books and pictures of Mrs Thomson, which will be passed on to her family.
He added: “Caroline is greatly missed by pupils, parents and staff alike, and for a myriad of different reasons – both professional and personal. It is only as situations arise you realise what a help and influence she was.
“We are hoping the walk will be an opportunity for people to reflect and remember Caroline as well as celebrate who she was and what she achieved with the school and beyond.”
Money from the walk, which begins at 9.30am, will be donated to Clan.
The charity will also receive a boost from Mrs Thomson’s family’s own fundraising efforts.
Her sister, Shona, is aiming to raise £3,000 to split between Clan and Brain Tumour Action by taking part in various activities throughout the year – including Run Garioch, the Baker Hughes 10K, and an abseil down the Forth Rail Bridge with her father Ian and friends. To support the effort, visit www.justgiving.com/teams/gossips3K430.