Chocolate Memorial

He was cruelly robbed of his life, but his school pals were determined his name would live on.

When 15-year-old Dean Henderson died from a rare heart condition, fellow pupils in his manufacturing food group at Whickham School were determined their friend would not be forgotten.

Dean loved food lessons, particularly anything to do with chocolate. With this in mind a fundraising campaign was launched to buy6 a trophy to be presented each year at prize giving to the student showing the same enthusiasm in class as Dean had.

And in the spirit of Dean's love of all things chocolate, the trophy is to be filled with chocolates.

Dean's mum Debra Henderson presented the trophy at the school's annual prize giving to Sarah Graham, who is to study A-level food technology.

Mrs Anderson, 42, said: "It made me feel very proud to know that Dean's friends still thought about him and Dean was so well thought of they did this.

"There were other prizes being given out to other students as well as the memorial trophy and it made me sad that Dean was not around to be involved.

"Dean really enjoyed his food technology class and loved cooking at home.

"He would have liked a career with cooking, It was a very fitting tribute and so lovely of them, I was very touched."

Such was the determination to mark Dean's memory the final figure raised through 'Bake In', donations, a grand raffle and Year 11 Summer Ball raised almost £900 which will benefit three causes, Cry Foundation, British Heart Foundation and the Cardio Thoracic Child Unit at the Freeman Hospital.

Dean was diagnosed with the rare condition, which meant the muscle in the centre of his heart was enlarged, when he was nine.