Juliette had been a student at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham for seven years and was described by headteacher Amelia McIlroy as “incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent.”
The heartbroken family of one of two teens who have died after contracting meningitis have released the first image of her.
Juliette, a Year 13 pupil who died from meningitis during the ongoing Kent outbreak, was remembered as ‘a true friend’ in tributes.
Speaking to the BBC, Juliette’s dad said that the family are “beyond devastated and they have no words to express their loss.” They also requested her surname not be publicised.
Juliette had been a student at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham for seven years and was described by headteacher Amelia McIlroy as “incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent.”
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She confirmed her death “with great sadness”, saying she was “a much loved and treasured member of our school community”.
She said: “Juliette was a student at our school for seven years. She was incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent, and she loved our school. Juliette embraced everything that school had to offer with great enthusiasm and joy, and her humour and her positivity were captivating.
“She was a genuinely caring and attentive listener, a true friend who listened with warmth, respect and sincere interest to her peers and to our staff. In short, she was a lovely girl, her beautiful smile, her loving nature and her sense of fun will be hugely missed. We are all completely devastated. Our love and our thoughts are with her family and friends at this terribly sad time.”
McIlroy said the focus now was on the safety and wellbeing of the rest of the school community. “We are continuing to work closely with UKHSA to ensure that they are all as well as they can be,” she said.
This comes as a third school, Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, confirmed one of its Year 13 pupils has been admitted to hospital with meningitis.
“Our thoughts are with him and his family during this difficult time, and we hope for a speedy recovery,” the headmaster wrote to parents. He added that while the situation is “worrying”, the school would remain open as the overall risk is considered low.
Simon Langton Grammar joins Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School and Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford in reporting cases. At the University of Kent, students were informed on Sunday of a confirmed death from meningitis, and hundreds have queued for antibiotics amid the outbreak.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said 13 cases with signs and symptoms of meningitis were identified in the Canterbury area from Friday to Sunday. A spokeswoman said: “We have worked with the University of Kent to provide advice letters to all 16,000 students, outlining recent cases, symptoms to watch for, how to obtain antibiotics, and what to do if they feel unwell.”
Trish Mannes, UKHSA regional deputy director for the South East, warned: “Meningococcal disease can progress rapidly. Signs and symptoms can include fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, shivering, vomiting and cold hands and feet. Septicaemia may also cause a rash that does not fade when pressed.
“Students are particularly at risk of missing early warning signs, as symptoms can be mistaken for a cold, flu or hangover.”
An update from Norton Knatchbull School confirmed a Year 13 pupil there had been admitted to hospital with a confirmed case of meningitis. The school reassured parents that no additional measures were required beyond remaining vigilant for symptoms.
At the University of Kent, officials are liaising closely with UKHSA, contacting known contacts of cases and postponing in-person assessments and exams while providing alternative arrangements for students.
