Laura Elisabeth Rhodes

This website is dedicated to the memory of someone I sadly never had the opportunity to meet, Miss
Laura Elisabeth Rhodes.





Sadly, Laura passed away at the tender age of 13 after the torment caused by others simply became
too much.


This site is created in memory of a truly beautiful, sensitive young lady whose memory shall live
on.


Sleep peacefully on the cotton clouds,


Gemma Lang, Full Stop 2 Bullying
www.fullstop2bullying.co.uk




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From Laura's parents, Yvonne & Mike


We are Laura's parents, Mike and Yvonne Rhodes. . Laura was bullied at school about her weight
initially. When she confided in a girl whom she considered to be a friend, that she might be gay,
she was also bullied about that. We complained to the school on countless occasions. It is a matter
of history that we were unsuccessful in trying to resolve the situation with the school. A year
after Laura was transferred to a Pupil Referral Unit our lovely daughter died, after taking a fatal
overdose of painkillers, on September 4th 2004. Laura wrote an account of a day at school detailing
exactly how the bullying made her feel. We released this to the press following her funeral, so that
every person who read it could walk in Laura's shoes for just the few minutes that it took to
read it. . We wish every child could read it. It is heartbreaking, but very enlightening.
We have at last obtained an admission from the Education Authority that Laura was indeed bullied at
Cefn Saeson School, and that the bullying was 'hurtful and damaging' to Laura. We have had
to fight very long and hard for this admission We had to shout to anyone who would listen, and speak
publicly about the most painful thing that a parent can ever experience, when the only thing we
wanted to do was withdraw and deal with our grief. To not have fought for Laura was unthinkable for
us. We never want another child, or another set of parents to have to deal with the decimation of
their family lives. We fight not for us, or Laura, it's too late for us, we fight for the
future Laura's. We'll continue to do so as long as there are bullied children.


www.fullstop2bullying.co.uk



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POEMS BY LAURA'S MUM.

An Anniversary Poem

Two long years ago today, that’s when time stood still,
No more time to do it all, no more dreams fulfilled.
I can’t believe it’s been that long, with you a sight unseen,
I wonder what you look like now, ‘cause now you’d be fifteen.

What colour is your hair today? I loved it chocolate brown,
Your eyes twinkling bright as stars, as you head off to town.
Your clothes, the latest trend to date, you’re dressed up to the nines,
Come and show them off to me, They’ll be the nicest signs!

As I awake, with each new day, I hope the pain has gone,
But as it grips my heart with claws, I know that hope’s forlorn.
The saddest thing of all for me, is not to see your face,
As you grow up and change, from girl to lady, full of grace.

I miss your hugs and cuddles, the smell of you, so sweet,
If I could get a glimpse of you, my joy would be complete.
I miss our journeys out together, though they were quite rare,
Your warm arm through mine, no feeling could compare.

Another year has crawled by, the hands of time held back,
Some days I’m in the pit, some others are just black.
I’m trying hard to ‘come to terms’, that’s what people say,
We have to ‘get over it’. I wish they’d show the way.

For Laura from her Mum


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Funeral Fit for a Princess.



On a wet and windy Wednesday,

The dreaded day arrived,

The Church filled to capacity,

The mourners, from far and wide.



Our Princess lay in perfect state,

in the silver coloured hearse.

Police cars keeping clear the roads,

As befits Miss Laura Rhodes.



She took the centre stage that day,

As they wheeled her down the aisle

Ruby Tuesday, by Melanie

Was what she chose, her style.



‘Morning has Broken’ was the hymn,

Our baby had requested,

It reminded her of times less grim,

Our nerve was greatly tested.



The haunting strains of music,

Tore all our hearts asunder.

The fog of pain and bewilderment

Threatened to drag us under.



The faces of the congregation

Were wet with salty tears,

The memory of this awful day

Will stay with them for years.



A funeral fit for a Princess,

Is just what she deserved.

She wouldn’t have a Wedding Day,

So we prayed this day would serve



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In Honour of Laura.


I felt you move with fluttery grace,
I saw on scan tv, your beautiful face,
You grew and grew, and so did I!
We bowled along under blue sky.


The time came round for you to emerge,
the family of three, into four would merge
A baby, a toddler, a little girl,
the time went by in a wonderful whirl.


You talked a blue streak, so very small,
our sweet little dragon, was growing quite tall.
At school your very favourite place to sit,
Was on the 'Hotseat', where your tales were always a hit!!


As you grew up, you fell in love,
With music which shook the ceilings above!!
You made me watch with you, the music channel,
Pink, Christina, whoever, we'd be the panel!!


Then came the testing , of your poor old Mum,
The questions got harder, my brain got numb!!
You'd say 'Who sung this?' and what was their last one?
I'd think 'Oh Yeah, I know it, At last I've won!!!!!


I miss you my darling, I wish you were here,
I'd never again complain if only you're near.
I miss all your foibles, the things so very YOU,
I kid myself daily, that it isn't true.


But my memory recalls it, that fateful day,
That Saturday morning, when you went away.
I wish that it didn't, it hurts like Hell,
It'll be forever, my prison cell.


Yvonne Rhodes.



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LAURA . . . . love mum x x x


I hear the music thumping, it comes from up above,
Laura's up there showering, she gives the door a shove.
I hear her favourite music, each day a different song
It's Nickleback that I can hear, there must be something wrong.


Each day she spent in misery, the insults aimed at her,
Did they think their nasty words just wouldn't cause a stir?,
She heard them call her horrid names, her eyes were full of tears,
For them to fall down her cheeks, would just confirm her fears.


They saw that they had hurt her, as they set out to do.
The stupid lot of idiots, they hadn't got a clue!
The hole it left inside her, was more than she could bear,
The feeling it endangered, was pure black despair.


When Laura was on holiday, we saw her other side,
The chatty Cathy girl we loved, with sparkling, pretty eyes.
She used her charm to great effect, we loved her razor wit,
When she smiled she lit the room, we loved her, we admit.


The room above silent now, our girl just isn't there,
No more songs that tell her mood, no more times to share.
She felt the pain so long and hard, we hope that now it's gone,
Up in Heaven, there is no pain, just a brand new dawn.




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Silence . . . .


Silence can mean so many things,
Sound carried high on golden wings.
A deep and lonely soundless cry,
Drifting on up, to black night sky.


Silence shared by lifelong friends,
Unspoken thoughts it can transcend.
No need to fill the empty void,
The comfort there to be enjoyed.


In the house where the new babe lies,
A half hour's silence is considered a prize!
But if it goes on, just a tad too long,
Her Mummy panics, lest something's wrong.


I sit here thinking of days gone by,
This silence so think, I want to cry.
Did I say cry? No!, I mean scream,
Please take away this nightmare dream.


The silence of sleep comes at a price,
I wake exhausted, to be precise.
There may be silence, ie, no sound
But in dreams, image and noise abound.


I just write what silence means to me,
I think it differs for all, to some degree,
If I could change a single thing,
I'd fill this house with Laura's din!



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Passing Over to the Other Side.


It was a misty early morning, when Laura took her leave,
My sisters came to get her, leaving us to cry and grieve.
She rose up gracefully, and joined her hands with theirs,
She is healed, she is whole, all free from worldly cares.


She hugged us tightly, kissed us all, we couldn’t feel her touch
The pain inside us filled the room, it hurt so very much.
The spirit trilogy watched us there, held out their heavenly hand,
Embraced us with their love, as far as it would span.


We sat there broken hearted, beside her earthly shell.
She didn’t need it now, her soul was free and well.
My sisters beckoned, they had to go, their fingers, all entwined
She didn't panic, she didn't fret, she felt the ties that bind.


I know she visits, I see the signs, I feel her all around.
I'd like to know without a doubt, that happiness abounds,
She's safe inside the circle, of our family's care.
They'll look after her, until we two get there.



For my Heavenly Daughter Laura, from Mum xxx



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Missing you this Christmas
LAURA ELISABETH RHODES

Though you're far away this Christmas
and we wish that you were not
we find ourselves thinking of you and
missing you a lot.
Fond memories of past Christmases
flood our minds while we're apart
and this Christmas, as in the past,
we'll keep you close at heart.

Christmas 2006 x x x

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To Yvonne & Mike,


Sadly, I never had the chance to meet your Laura but when I hear you speak of her I know she was a
truly special and much loved daughter.


I am grateful for your permission to create this memorial. Laura left this world too soon, but she
will live on as her memory is kept alive by youselves, those who loved her and many of us who have
been touched by Laura's story.


Thinking of you as always,


Gemma x x x
Full Stop 2 Bullying
www.fullstop2bullying.co.uk



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This website was made for Laura by Full Stop 2 Bullying. If you are the victim or just want some
advice please visit Full Stop 2 Bullying's website at

www.fullstop2bullying.co.uk