School's caretaker dies of meningitis

From the archive, first published Tuesday 21st Feb 2006.

A Bradford school caretaker has died after contracting meningitis.

Father-of-two Richard Sewell died in hospital from the pneumococcal strain of the disease.

He leaves a wife, Tracey, and two children, Ryan aged six and Molly aged four.

Tributes were paid today to the popular 49-year-old, who had worked as a caretaker at Reevy Hill Primary School in Buttershaw for the past five-and-a-half years.

The school's head teacher Anne Plunkett said: "We are deeply shocked and saddened at the death of Richard Sewell, our caretaker.

"For the last five years Richard was a valued colleague who played a significant part in the life of the school.

"We have felt his absence during the past weeks while he was in hospital. Richard gave generously of his time and energy to enrich the school.

"His contribution extended beyond his caretaker duties. He acted as DJ when we held our discos and he enjoyed amusing the children with his imaginative costumes on our non-uniform charity days. He will be sorely missed by the whole school community."

Mr Sewell had been in critical condition at Leeds General Infirmary for more than a week before his death.

Health bosses have reassured the public that pneumococcal meningitis poses a low level of risk of other people being infected.

Dr Suzanna Matthew, Bradford Health Protection Unit's consultant in communicable disease control said: "Obviously any death in these circumstances is a very tragic and our thoughts and condolences are with the family concerned.

"It is important to stress that deaths of this sort are unusual. Pneumococcal bacterua are one of the causes of meningitis.

"Cases caused by pneumococcal bacteria pose a particularly low risk of infection to others in the community.

"Because of this doctors do not recommend any preventative action in these situations, it is very uncommon indeed to see other linked cases."

Symptoms of pneumococcal meningitis include a stiff neck, fever, vomiting, sever headaches, temperatures and a dislike of bright lights.

Mr Sewell lived with his family in a house on the school grounds in Bedale Drive and both his children attend the school.

A letter was sent out to parents by the school informing them that his illness posed no threat to pupils at the school.

Mrs Plunkett said: "At the onset of Richard's illness I immediately sought advice and guidance from the doctors treating Richard and public health. I was informed by public health that his illness posed no threat to anyone else and that the school needed to take no further action.

"This continued to be the advice on his transfer from Bradford Royal Infirmary to Leeds General Infirmary and Public Health was updated when Richard's condition deteriorated and gave new rise for concern.

"Our thoughts are with Richard's wife Tracey and his children, both of whom are pupils at our school, and one of our priorities now is to support and comfort them at this very difficult and sad time. I know our pupils and their families will want to extend their condolences to the Sewell family."

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