Headteacher's devastating tribute to 'bright and bubbly' girl, 6, found dead in house alongside dad
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A devastated headteacher has paid a heartfelt tribute to tragic six-year-old pupil Hope Gordon, who was found dead in a house alongside her dad Mark, 36, on Monday. Fiona Linfoot described Hope as a "bright, bubbly" girl who "brought joy to everyone she met" in a statement issued on behalf of the school.
![[Mark Gordon, 36, and Hope, six]](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/article34535220.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Screenshot-2025-01-22-at-122434JPG.jpg)
Hope and her father's deaths are being treated as unexplained, with police stating that they have found no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved. Post-mortem examinations are set to take place this week. Ms Linfoot, of Toronto Primary School in West Lothian, said: "Hope was a much-loved member of the Toronto Primary family, and will be hugely missed by all her friends and school staff. She was a bright, bubbly and affectionate girl who brought joy to everyone she met. We will really miss her infectious smile and kind heart.
![[Police at the scene after police found the bodies of a 36-year-old father and his six-year-old daughter at a property in Harburn Drive, West Calder, West Lothian, on Monday afternoon. Picture date: Wednesday January 22, 2025.]](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/article34535396.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Police-at-the-scene-after-police-found-the-bodies-of-a-36-year-old-father-and-his-six-year-old-daughter-at-a-property.jpg)
READ MORE: Boy, 9, shot dead by stepdad in horror scene cop says he 'never wanted to see'. "We would ask everyone to respect the privacy of her family and the school community at this difficult time. Help and support is available to any of our pupils, or staff, affected by this tragic news.".
![[Flowers left at the scene after police found the bodies of a 36-year-old father and his six-year-old daughter at a property in Harburn Drive, West Calder, West Lothian, on Monday afternoon. Picture date: Wednesday January 22, 2025.]](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/article34535398.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Flowers-left-at-the-scene-after-police-found-the-bodies-of-a-36-year-old-father-and-his-six-year-old-daughter-at-a.jpg)
Chief Superintendent Gregg Banks stated that concerns were raised when Hope failed to attend school on Monday, prompting a police response to a "concern for" call. He added: "That call related to concern from a family member around their child failing to attend school. This led our officers to conduct inquiries to identify the child’s whereabouts, and ultimately resulted in them attending at the property at Harburn Drive in West Calder.
![[Detective Superintendent Grant Hendry speaking outside Livingston police station in Livingston, after police found the bodies of a 36-year-old father and his six-year-old daughter at a property in Harburn Drive, West Calder, West Lothian, on Monday afternoon. Picture date: Wednesday January 22, 2025.]](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/article34535395.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Detective-Superintendent-Grant-Hendry-speaking-outside-Livingston-police-station-in-Livingston-after-police-found-the.jpg)
