MORE THAN 200 people turned out in Harwell to pay their respects to a woman “at the heart of the village”.

Family, teachers, parents and Police Community Support Officers filled St Matthew’s Church for the funeral of Koreen Davis, office manager at Harwell Community Primary School.

The 42-year-old, who worked at the village school for eight years and was formerly a pupil there, died suddenly on January 6.

Our top stories

School headteacher Bryn Gibson said: “The fact that so many people came is testament to how loved she was. It speaks volumes about how many people she touched.”

Jane Morton, whose son went to the school, said: “She was just really beautiful inside and out. I’m so proud to have met her and no-one had a bad word about her. All the parents would say the same.

“If any child turned up for a school trip without a packed lunch she would run off and buy one with her own money. She was just so lovely.”

Former school headteacher Peter Cansell, who hired Ms Davis in 2006, said: “It’s just so wrong how someone who has given so much can go so young. She was at the heart of the village. Everybody who has had anything to do with Harwell knew Koreen.

“She was so open and welcoming and kind and committed.”

Ms Davis is survived by her two children Sam, 16, and Rosie, 10, and her partner Lee Cullen.

The school has provided counselling and support for pupils and staff.


Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.