Balloon tribute to Tamworth pupil

Gemma Toulson

SCHOOL children have paid tribute to the memory of their friend who died two years ago by holding a balloon race.

Up and away... The charity balloons are released into the air.
Admire (left) and Benjamin with the cup that Tamworth FC received for winning the Blue Square Conference last season.
Balloon race winners (left to right) Phoenix, Jack, Cheyanne, Jessica and Lauryn.
Brett Mummery, who died in 2007.

The event was organised by Oakhill Primary School to pay tribute to former pupil Brett Mummery, who died in 2007 from peritonitis.

It saw balloons released at the Glascote Heath school travel as far as Germany and Belgium.

People who found them were asked to write to the school to tell pupils where their balloons had landed.

The youngsters whose inflatables travelled the furthest were crowned competition winners this week.

Headteacher Beverley Dandy said: "The balloon that travelled the furthest came back with a very nice letter from Germany, and we also had one back from Belgium.

"Most balloons came back with lovely letters, and the children have enjoyed finding out where they went by looking on maps."

The balloons were released in November, on what would have been Brett's 11th birthday.

The school holds an annual fund-raiser in his memory.

This year the proceeds will be donated to Help for Heroes, which gives support to injured soldiers and their families.

Tamworth Football Club donated a signed shirt as a prize, which was won by 10-year-old Lauryn.

Representatives from the club also went along, and they took the cup they won last season for children to have a look at.