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Herts and Essex High to celebrate school life of Jo Watson, maths teacher who died from bowel cancer at 37




Herts and Essex High School is to hold a special event celebrating Jo Watson, the maths teacher who died from bowel cancer at the age of 37 – and the dress code is Christmas jumpers!

The Warwick Road secondary’s community is invited to come together for “an uplifting and joyful celebration of the Herts & Essex life of Miss Watson” on Thursday December 19.

It will start from 4.15pm in the New Hall and be followed by drinks, canapés and songs in the courtyard, finishing at around 5.30pm.

Herts and Essex High is celebrating the school life of Jo Watson on Thursday December 19
Herts and Essex High is celebrating the school life of Jo Watson on Thursday December 19

The celebration is open to anyone who would like to remember Jo: current students, alumni, former members of staff, and past and present parents and carers. Her husband Will plans to attend along with some of Jo’s family.

A spokeswoman for the school said: “Miss Watson was a much loved and incredibly dear teacher, tutor and colleague. The special event will give everyone who wishes to the chance to remember her and all she gave to Herts & Essex.

“The school know that there will be a lot of people who would like to attend, but also know that they cannot reach everyone; therefore, if you know of anyone who might like to be included, please do forward the details on to them.

Jo loved musical theatre and dance, and choreographed school productions of Grease and Sister Act
Jo loved musical theatre and dance, and choreographed school productions of Grease and Sister Act

“In order to get a rough idea of numbers, Herts & Essex is asking those who are interested in coming along to fill out an expression of interest form. This can be done via https://forms.office.com/e/sPFrqtjWvu. This will help the school with planning the event and ensuring its success.

“As this is a celebration of Jo’s life, the aim is for it to be as uplifting as possible and we’re asking people to come along in Christmas jumpers. Jo would have been very much up for that!”

Before then, staff and students will be donning antlers for a Rudolph Run in Jo’s memory, organised by PE teacher Lizzie Bellinger, around local streets on Tuesday morning (December 17) in aid of Isabel Hospice, which cared for Jo in her final weeks.

Jo passed away peacefully at her parents’ home in Sandon on October 28, accompanied by her husband Will Taylor-Watson, her mother Katherine and her sister Georgina, one of her four siblings. Mourners filled Cam Valley Crematorium, Great Chesterford, on November 16 for her funeral service.

Jo and her husband, Will Taylor-Watson
Jo and her husband, Will Taylor-Watson

Will, 36, said in a tribute to Jo published in the Indie that she lived “very bravely” for 16 months following her shock diagnosis of “very aggressive” stage four bowel cancer.

She stayed positive throughout, living the life she wanted despite the disease and continuing to make plans, and found joy in spending time with family and friends.

Jo and Will lived in a cottage in Saffron Walden with their young dog, cockapoo Peggy.

They enjoyed musical theatre and were members of Saffron Walden Musical Theatre Company. Jo loved dance and choreographed Herts and Essex High School productions of Grease and Sister Act.

Jo raised £7,000 for Cancer Research UK doing a walking challenge while undergoing treatment.

During the last few weeks of her life, Will started fundraising for Isabel Hospice. With her support, he began running 1km for every £10 donated.

So far, his JustGiving total stands at £5,555, which represents a distance of 555km (345 miles). He aims to complete 100km (62 miles) a month as the money comes in.

Jo’s sister Georgina has also taken on a running challenge to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK, covering 15km a week for three months until the end of January. So far she has raised £1,525.



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