DEAF children will be able to enjoy day trips and excursions after their school took delivery of a new minibus – purchased in memory of a former pupil.
David Corbett died suddenly aged just 51, in 2023, and his wife Elizabeth pledged to raise £60,000 to fund a new minibus for Royal School for the Deaf Derby in his name.
The appeal gained significant attention after Elizabeth, of Chellaston, revealed she was informed of David’s death over Facetime because the paramedics could not use British Sign Language (BSL).
Since then, she has advocated for BSL training for emergency service workers alongside her minibus fundraising efforts.
Now the school has taken official delivery of the vehicle, which is painted in the school’s colours and has David’s name printed on the side and the front.
Elizabeth said: “As I was organising David’s funeral people kept asking me questions about flowers and donations. I sat down to watch the weekly BSL round-up from school and they said that sadly the minibus was being scrapped.
“It felt like a sign from David that we should try to replace it. He had loved his years at the school and especially school trips – he’d been to Denmark and done his Duke of Edinburgh – and he had made good friends there and had good memories.
“So, to finally have the minibus here and to see how pleased all the children are, is wonderful. David would be so proud of us all and I hope that the children here now have happy memories of their time at the school, just as David did.”
The bus’s first outing was to collect Elizabeth and her children Jacob and Amelia and bring them to the school, where they received a warm welcome from pupils.
Paul Burrows, head teacher of the school, said: “The generosity and dedication of David’s family and the deaf community is really heartwarming.
“This new minibus will make a huge difference to our students, providing them with greater opportunities for learning and enrichment. We are incredibly grateful for their support and for honouring David’s legacy in such a meaningful way.”
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