THE mum of a little boy who died from a brain tumour says she has been “saddened” that play equipment put up in a school playground in his memory has been ripped out.
Janet Croker discovered the wooden boat, bearing a plaque in memory of eight-year-old Scott named HMS Scott in his honour, had been destroyed after her sister who lives close to Spalding Primary School rang to say she had seen it lying on the ground broken into pieces.
Mrs Croker said the news had upset her as the school had not been in touch to say the play equipment would be moved as part of the siting of a new mobile classroom.
The Portakabin has been lifted into the playground during the school holidays to help accommodate an increased number of children at the school when the autumn term starts next month.
Mrs Croker, of Avignon Road, Spalding, said: “I have written to the headteacher because I am saddened that they did not inform me as a matter of courtesy that the boat would need to be moved.
“Apparently, the contractors tried to move it but it has broken up and it is now totally destroyed.
“I don’t want to make a huge fuss about it because I understand that things have to change but the boat was dedicated to my son and his illness and death affected a lot of people, including pupils and parents.
“I’ve been on Facebook and a lot of people are angry that the boat has been destroyed.”
Scott died in 2004 after a two-year battle against a brain tumour.
A spokesman for Lincolnshire County Council said the contractors installing the mobile building would have been acting on instructions from the school to move the play equipment.
South Holland ward councillor Roger Gambba-Jones said: “I can understand it must have been a shock for Mrs Croker and her family. It is a very sad situation.”
No one from the school was available for comment.