Schoolgirl’s moving tribute to baby sister secures £2k for Cranbrook school

A Cranbrook schoolgirl has ensured her baby sister’s name will be a permanent part of the town’s landscape, after winning a competition to name a new housing development.

Holleigh-Ellen’s entry, "Maddison View," honours her sister, who is currently undergoing heart surgery in Bristol. The moving tribute so impressed developers Persimmon Homes that they not only chose the name but also surprised her school with a £2,000 windfall.

Maddison was born in Bristol last November with congenital heart disease, and has required ongoing hospital treatment, including heart surgery.

She has yet to return home to Cranbrook, with the family spending Christmas by her hospital bedside.

In addition to receiving a £100 voucher for winning the competition, Holleigh-Ellen’s entry also prompted the developer to award £2,000 to Cranbrook Education Campus through its Community Champions scheme.

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Persimmon’s Community Champions fund distributes around £700,000 annually to good causes and community organisations across Britain in areas where the five-star builder operates. 

Recent local beneficiaries have included Cranbrook Town Council, Broadclyst Parish Council, Cranbrook FC and Broadclyst FC.

Explaining her choice of name, Holleigh-Ellen said she wanted to honour her sister and feel a connection to her while she remains in hospital.

“I would like to name the new development after my baby sister who was born in November,” she said. 

“She had to be born in Bristol and have heart surgery. She’s never been to our home in Cranbrook – she’s still in hospital and we spent our Christmas in hospital with her. Her name is Maddison.

“I'd like to look out at the new development from school and feel happy that she's always going to be in Cranbrook with me even when she has to spend time in hospital.”

Stacey Harris, Sales Director for Persimmon Homes South West, said the company had been moved by the entry.

“We were really taken by Holleigh-Ellen’s entry to our competition to name our next Cranbrook outlet – should it be awarded planning permission – and felt that the business could not just award her efforts, but her support network too,” she said.

“Persimmon is delighted to be able to use its Community Champions scheme to award funding to Cranbrook Education Campus for all the work they do. We also wish Maddison and her family the very best with her treatment.”

Stephen Farmer, Head of Cranbrook Education Campus, said the story had resonated across the school community.

“Holleigh-Ellen’s entry was both heartfelt and inspiring, and it has touched our whole school community,” he said. 

“The strength and resilience shown by her family is truly inspirational and reflects the compassion that sits at the heart of Cranbrook Education Campus.

“We are also sincerely grateful to Persimmon Homes for their generous £2,000 donation. 

“This funding will help us enhance opportunities and experiences for our pupils, supporting their learning and enrichment beyond the classroom.”

A live planning application relating to Cranbrook Town Centre is currently under consideration by the local authority.