Ripon student pays tribute to devoted aunt after A-level success

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
A grieving student has paid tribute to his late aunt as he collected top A-level grades at Ripon Grammar School this morning.

Bertie Wood has achieved A*s in maths and chemistry, an A in economics and an A* in his extended projected qualification.

Bertie’s aunt, chemistry teacher Jay Blundell, who was also his godmother, died aged 55, just weeks after being diagnosed with a rare brain disease as he studied for his A-levels.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The aspiring lawyer was mentored by Ms Blundell who suffered from sporadic Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease.

Bertie Wood of Ripon Grammar School has achieved three A*'s and an A in his A-levelsBertie Wood of Ripon Grammar School has achieved three A*'s and an A in his A-levels
Bertie Wood of Ripon Grammar School has achieved three A*'s and an A in his A-levels

Bertie said: “She was a fantastic teacher and had a real passion for her subject and learning in general.

"My mum had to be with her for the final two weeks of her life and her death affected the whole family.

"It would be good if we could raise awareness about such a rare and horrible brain disease.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bertie, who will be studying law at the University Of Leeds told how he sorely missed his aunt’s help and guidance in the run-up to exams.

He added: “She was always more than willing to help me with any problems, and I was very lucky to have her.

"I hope I can make her proud with my results.

“It has been an emotional few years for me and I can’t wait to begin a new chapter in my life.

“I would like to thank the amazing teachers and the school for their tireless work to help me achieve my results and guide me through such an important time of my life.”

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

News you can trust since 1836
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice