Hundreds turn out to memorial service for popular teachers Barry and Elizabeth Dighton (From Your Local Guardian)

Hundreds turn out to memorial service for popular teachers Barry and Elizabeth Dighton

10:30am Friday 27th November 2009

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A memorial service was held on Thursday for two “caring and loving” teachers found stabbed to death in their Shirley home.

Barry Dighton, 61 and Elizabeth, 60, were found dead in their home on Wednesday, September 30.

The “inseparable couple” both worked at Elmhurst School for Boys but retired three years ago.

Hundreds attended the service, at Croydon Parish Church which was, according to Reverend Canon Luke Boswell, a “tribute to their memory that so many people had turned up.”

Generations of pupils, past and present, filled the pews to listen to family and friend’s fond memories of the couple.

Charles South, CEO and bursar of Elmhurst School, said: “They had an incredible influence on so many people”

Speaking about one of his memories of Liz Dighton, Mr South said: “Liz came in the office one day giggling to herself.

“She had taken her reception class into the playground for a lesson on nature and insects when the class saw a field mouse running along the fence.”

“One of the boys said ‘Mrs Dighton, Mrs Dighton we have those in our restaurant.'”

The memorial also heard both Barry Dighton and Liz had “infectous senses of humour.”

Friend of more than three decades, Reg Anderson, the former owner of Elmhurst said he met Mr Dighton shortly before he “married and became inseparable soul mates throughout life'.”

He said: “Their lives ended in a totally incomprehensible way."

Another close friend, Dr Christopher Barnett, headmaster of Whitgift School said: “Liz had a wonderfully warm personality. She was constantly on the verge of a fit of giggles.

“Barry was a consummate professional.”

Dr Barnett then went on to describe and incident where two pupils of Mr Dighton were caught on CCTV throwing stones at some of the Whitgift School’s peacocks.

“Mr Dighton made the boys apologise then sent me a letter saying he would like to see the CCTV footage to see why they had missed and why he wasn’t using the seam-up technique he had taught him.”

Leave your tributes to Barry and Liz in the comments section below.

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