Primary school to honour Ukraine aid worker two years on from his death
It’s been two years since Chris Parry was unlawfully killed in the country
Last updated 7th Jan 2025
Chris Parry, 28, went missing with fellow British national Andrew Bagshaw back in January 2023 near Soledar in Ukraine.
The Cornwall born aid worker had left his job in Cheltenham to help evacuate people fleeing from the ongoing war.
At the time of their deaths, the UK Foreign Office insisted they were killed by an artillery shell.
But at an inquest into Mr Parry's death in Oxford last year it was concluded that he died of gunshot wounds to the head and torso.
Coroner Darren Salter said there was an element of evidential difficulty, but he did conclude that Mr Parry's death was an unlawful killing.
Chris’ parents Rob and Christine Parry revealed his old primary school, Kea School in Cornwall, have planned a memorial for him and have named a class ‘class Parry’ in his honour.
On the Memorial, his mother Christine said: "They’ve already approached a sculptor in Ireland, but he has got close Cornish connections, and its going to be made of Delabole slate and its going to be the height of chris and its going to have a heart shaped cut out."
The school is also giving a portrait of Chris, which is currently at Truro Cathedral, a permanent home in the reception of the school.
His parents told us how they had visited Cheltenham over the weekend and met up with some of his work colleagues and former classmates to take part in an 11 mile walk in his honour.
Christine said: "It was heart warming to reminisce with them and to know that they're still thinking of him and they're sill remembering and this will hopefully be an annual event for us, in memory of Chris".