THE former school of a York soldier who lost his life in Afghanistan has presented a prize in his honour.
York High School presented an award in the memory of 21-year-old Ashley David Smith, who was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan in June last year when he was providing security to fellow soldiers building a road.
Ashley, who attended Oaklands School, now York High School, was a talented sportsman well known for helping other pupils. His mum Sandra, sister Kizzy and niece Laura attended the ceremony to see 16-year-old Tania Carter presented with the “Trooper Ashley Smith Award” to recognise her efforts throughout her school career to help others in PE and for showing courage, determination and staying positive in adversity.
Presenting the award alongside former England rugby player and weightlifter Katy Storie, Gavin Cowley, deputy head at the school, said: “Ashley was always respectful of authority and a determined team player who could be relied on to do the right thing.
“His passion at school, and after, was basketball and he showed real leadership in his work.
“Typically Ash had volunteered for the dangerous job of providing security for the clearing of an area littered with IEDs when he ultimately lost his life.”
Other award winners at the ceremony included Abbie Bowman, 15, who won the Olympic Values Award for her determination, respect and inspiration and Amanda Lane, assistant head at York High School, who won an inclusion award from City of York Council for her and the school’s efforts to review and improve inclusion.
Sandra said: “I would like to thank York High School for remembering Ashley. The award was the school’s idea. I feel really proud that he is being remembered in this way. I was proud of him all of his life.”
Awards went to
KEY STAGE 3.
Communications, expressive and performing arts faculty
English: Erin Morgan, Joe Gibson. Languages: Melissa Roddis. Music: Jack Parsons. Drama: Josh Yeomans.
Humanities faculty
Geography: Soffia Dixon. Josh Yeomans. History: Chloe Fletcher, Jake Calam. RLS: Soffia Dixon, Josh Yeomans.
Inclusion faculty: Megan Barrass, Cameron Glover, Kate Goddard, Chris Stubbs.
Maths and ICT faculty
Maths: Michelle Duply, Nathan Church, Ryan Winn. ICT: Becky Muggeridge, Emily Pinder, Reece Matthews.
Science faculty
Science: Megan Barrass, Naomi Goddard, Neal MacDonald, Brightson Xaviour.
Sport and health faculty
PE: Ellen Jennings, Sophie Bradley, Sam Backhouse, Tom Noble.
Technology faculty
Art and technology: Lauren Maguire, Paige Moorby, Charlotte Sloan, Reece Arthur, Alfie Brown, Jordan Mardon-Mowbray.
Head of year
Year 7: Paige Moorby, Cameron Loftus. Year 8: Charlotte Sloan, Ryan Martin. Year 9: Courtney Catterson, Danny Moody.
KEY STAGE 4
Communications, expressive and performing arts faculty
English: Jarred Smith. Languages: Daniel Nyman. Music: Carl Richardson. Drama: Dana Daniels, Lucy Simpson.
Humanities faculty
Geography: Katy Sharp, Adam Cook. History: Olivia Brummitt. RLS: Ben Simpson.
Inclusion faculty: Katie Gibson, Louise Richardson, Paul Mountain, Daniel Thackray.
Maths and ICT faculty
Maths: Bethany License, Melissa Wood, Josh Potter. ICT: Steph Harper, Caitlyn Walls, Sam Donley.
Science faculty
Science: Rebecca Noble, Alice Stevenson, Daniel Nyman, Nathan Preston.
Sport and health faculty
PE: Abbie Bowman, Laura Sykes, Jake Holland, Tim Owen.
The Trooper Ashley Smith award: Tania Carter
Technology faculty
Art: Emily Hudson. Engineering diploma: Richard Simpson. Food: Lucy Bond. Graphics: George Conway. Resistant materials: Danny Hill. Textiles: Bethany Brookes.
Leadership: Abbie Hickton, Erica Van Minnen.
Diploma: Presley Cross, Rebecca Noble, Jarred Smith.
Head of year
Year 10: Jodie Borthwick, Nathan Preston. Year 11: Abbie Bowman, James Duck.
Olympic Values award: Abbie Bowman.
Ashley award a cause for pride
IT is always good to see young people who help others getting the recognition they deserve. It gives the lie to those who moan that young people these days have no sense of responsibility, or of community.
Well done, therefore, to 16-year-old Tania Carter, of York High School, who has won a new school award for helping others in PE.
What makes her award particularly special is that it has been introduced in honour of a true York hero: Trooper Ashley David Smith, the young York soldier killed in an explosion in Afghanistan a year ago, while providing security for fellow soldiers building a road.
Ashley’s death was a tragic waste of a promising young life. It was felt particularly keenly at York High, because the young soldier used to be a pupil at the school’s predecessor, Oaklands.
Presenting the Trooper Ashley Smith Award to Tania, deputy head Gavin Cowley said Ashley was remembered as a determined, respectful young man who always showed real leadership.
“Typically Ash had volunteered for the dangerous job of providing security for the clearing of an area littered with IEDs when he ultimately lost his life,” he said.
Ashley’s death, while all he was trying to do was help the people of Afghanistan rebuild their lives, was a dreadful waste. But this award is the perfect way for his old school to remember him.
His mum Sandra, sister Kizzy and niece Laura were all at the school to see the award presented. “I feel really proud that he is being remembered in this way,” Sandra said. “I was proud of him all his life.”
His school is proud of him too, Sandra – as is the city which mourns him, and to which he brought such great credit. Rest in peace, Ashley.
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