Leslie Bell, remembered for her bright smile and contagious laughter, left a void at Hertford Grammar School when she died in 2010. Known for her love of reading and her high expectations in the classroom, school employees embarked on a mission to have a visual reminder of Mrs. Bell’s love of reading on the school campus.

Employees at Hertford Grammar School recently gather to dedicate a “reading” bench in memory of former educator Leslie Bell.

The 2012 Rotary Teacher of the Year Julie Roberts and the 2012 Hertford Grammar School Teacher of the Year Teresa Beardsley had the honor of cutting the ribbon during a brief ceremony.

Bell died at the age of 34 while teaching at Hertford Grammar School in 2010. She had taught at Hertford Grammar School since 1998.

The bench carries Bell’s name and her motto “because nice matters.”