Remembering Elizabeth

Friday 12 May 2023

A year after the death of a 15-year old girl, who attended school in Guernsey before moving to Jersey, a special event has been planned in each island to remember her and to raise further awareness of the risks of anxiety and depression in young people.

Elizabeth Emily Borman attended St Mary and St Michael Primary School before being awarded a place at the Guernsey Grammar School during the final year of the 11+ selection process in the island.

That means she would have been sitting her GCSEs over the coming weeks alongside other teenagers, but sadly she died on 5 May, 2022 - shortly after moving to Jersey. 

Her mother, Natalia has described her death as "tragic" and has said she wants to use the loss of her youngest child to "raise awareness of mental health in young people and to raise money for the Youth Commission in Guernsey".

A similar event will be held in Jersey to raise money for the Mind Jersey - Youthful Minds project.

Both events - to be attended by her mother, and older siblings Mike and Katia - will focus around 'walks of hope'. 

The first, in Guernsey this coming Saturday - 13 May - will see people gather at the Bridge, at the small garden in front of the North Side Chippy, before walking to town where the finish point will be the Market.

The following weekend a second walk of hope will be held between Noirmont Point and St Aubin in Jersey.

Pictured: A playlist of Elizabeth Borman's favourite songs has been put together ahead of two 'walks of hope' in her memory. The playlist can be opened HERE.

Elizabeth was born in Jersey but moved to Guernsey as a young child. She was a pupil at St Mary and St Michael Primary School for a number of years before being awarded a place at the Grammar School. She attended that school for three years before moving back to Jersey.

The news of her death was met with shock in Guernsey last May. Her friends at the Grammar School were informed and the news soon spread to pupils at other schools who had known Elizabeth through primary school or other means.

At the time, small groups of her friends gathered to remember her but no formal event was held in Guernsey to enable those grieving her loss to share their memories of her.

Her mum now hopes that can happen this weekend.

"I used to call her Veta," said Ms Borman. "I am Russian by origin and Elizabeth would sound as Elizaveta in Russian. Affectionate for Veta is Vetochka and that means small branch of the tree. My mother Ludmila named Elizabeth in honour of English Queen Elizabeth II because my mother adored her taste, ruling, strength, wisdom, outfits and her smile no matter what."

Ms Borman continued, confirming her pride in all three of her children: "...Elizabeth easily passed her exams to Guernsey Grammar school after Year 6. She followed her sister Katia (21 years old now) and her big brother Michael (23,5 years old now) foot steps and excelled in her studies."

Elizabeth moved to Jersey ahead of her GCSE studies for personal reasons, and an advocate who assisted Ms Borman during that time will be with her at tomorrow's 'walk of hope'.

She said she is concerned about worry, anxiety and depression in children and teenagers, saying "poor mental health in young people is concerningly on the rise".

With that in mind, Ms Borman said: "The aim of this walk is to raise awareness of mental health in young people and to raise money for the Youth Commission in Guernsey.

"This event is taking place on 13 of May 2023 to commemorate the one year anniversary of the tragic death of 15 year old Elizabeth Emily Borman. All are welcome to participate, young and old."

Ms Borman added: "...all participants undertaking this walk do so at their own risk. Please share with anyone you know that either knew Elizabeth Emily Borman or have had personal experiences of having the loss of a loved one from mental health."

Ms Borman asks that people arrive from 10:30 on Saturday morning, so she can give a short welcome before the walk starts at 11:00.

If people wish to donate money, or raise sponsorship, Ms Borman has asked that they be made to the Youth Commission in Guernsey, specifying 'Walk of Hope'.

The above sponsorship form can be used and can also be downloaded HERE. 

Ms Borman has lived in Jersey for more than half of her life, while her younger daughter lived in Guernsey for around half of her short life. Ms Borman's two older children - Mike and Katia - both attended schools in Guernsey too. 

She hopes that people will gather in both islands for the planned 'walks of hope' to raise awareness of the rise of young people struggling with personal worries and anxieties.