The community of St Paul’s High School was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Gary Crossan.

Gary has been our official school photographer for over twenty years. His incredible photography is everywhere in St Paul’s and across our digital media platforms. He was an unofficial member of staff and a friend to everyone in St Paul’s. His kind and approachable manner made him the perfect school photographer. Nervous pupils were encouraged to give Gary the perfect smile and everyone became ‘Luigi’ or ‘Chicken’ as he ensured the perfect moment was captured.

Our website is full of Gary’s images, and only recently he was front and centre in St Paul’s, taking the traditional start of year photos of new Year 8 pupils, returning Year 13 pupils and images of our new staff. He was with us as we celebrated the successes of the Class of 2024 at our Senior Prizegiving and the following morning as we welcomed back the cohort of past pupils and colleagues who formed the backbone of the All-Ireland winning Armagh team. Gary was everywhere that morning, on the roof, on the stage, taking the original photos for the St Paul’s archive.

We share the shock and sadness of Gary’s family at his sudden death. His legacy as part of the St Paul’s family will live on through his beautiful photographs which adorn our corridors, our publications and online platforms as well as the many mantelpieces and walls of the homes of St Paul’s parents and grandparents where photos of our smiling pupils hang proudly.

We will miss him so much.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Gary’s wife, Julie, his children Rowen, Reesa and Rudy, his mum, dad, brothers and sisters and with all his family and friends.