Thought For The Day – Friday 5th September 2025
Light and Legacy
Welcome back today to the whole T.B.S.H.S. Community.
We will make a very positive start.
So often in life how we begin a task is vital and really does set the tone.
We very warmly welcome our new students and staff.
We help, and look out and care for, anyone who may be going through challenges.
We respect the school environment, which many very good people have been working on in the holiday.
We respectfully engage in, and out of, lessons.
We do this because this is “The Black and Gold Way”.
These are our standards. There are our values. This is our story.
Ultimately, being good characters and people, doing our very best, treasuring and looking after people, the environment, and ourselves, is what life is all about.
There was no better illustration of this than in Bishop’s Stortford town centre on Tuesday 2nd September 2025, as the local community paid its deep and great respects to Norma Symonds, an outstanding citizen. Please see the pictures below.
People stopped what they were doing to applaud the funeral cortege, which was accompanied by a lone piper playing “Flower of Scotland”, a tribute to Norma’s Scottish heritage. One last journey in this life for Norma through the town whose people Norma so wonderfully served.
“The Flower of Stortford”. All generations came to pay their respects both at Norma’s funeral at Holy Trinity Church, Bishop’s Stortford, which was also broadcast at Bishop’s Stortford Methodist Church, and afterwards in the streets of the town. The sun shined on Norma.
Someone’s legacy is the one life, or many lives, they positively touched.
Norma Symonds was a distinguished former Mayor of Bishop’s Stortford. Norma was also a local councillor and, in so many ways, a local counsellor. Norma helped all, especially the vulnerable. “If Norma could not help you, no one could”, recounted the owner of the local shop, “Dawn’s”, on the occasion of Norma’s passing from this life. Norma transcended boundaries. Norma’s politics was helping others.
Norma never forgot her roots. She herself had many challenges in her early life, and beyond, challenges of all kinds beyond words to truly describe. Norma shared her story when she visited T.B.S.H.S. to speak with her inspirational presentation. Norma’s resilience was extraordinary.
But Norma never forgot what it was like to struggle and suffer and devoted her life to supporting others. Norma was there for others when often no one else was. Norma had a massive heart, total determination, true wisdom and integrity and great character, humour and positivity. Norma was true to herself and true to others.
The wonderful “Bishop’s Stortford Independent”, always communicating civic pride, has been paying tribute in the last few weeks to this truly great citizen, who passed away from this life on 11th August, aged 76. Such a wonderful life and legacy. We will pay tribute to Norma, a devoted Christian, at our church services at Saint Michael’s Church.
Today, on World Charity Day, we remember Norma Symonds who did so much for our local area, being instrumental in charities the school over the years has fundraised for: the Food Bank; the Night Shelter; and Red Kite (which supports survivors of rape and sexual abuse).
A most marvellous and magical Mayor, councillor and counsellor has just entered Heaven.
On this World Charity Day, we pay tribute to all who have given so much to our local, national and international community.
We look around us and particularly think of those local heroes, like Norma, whether they be known or unsung, who are massive inspirations all around us and in our hearts.
It really does only take one person to make a positive difference to one person.
The legacy of love.
What will your legacy be?
Today.
And in the future.
