Village united in grief

THERE was standing room only at Mayfield Parish Church on Sunday as villagers united in grief after the death in a road accident of an 11-year-old boy. Leading mourners at the weekly service were the family of young Lawrence Reeve, of Roselands Avenue, who died on Friday after getting off the bus bringing him home from school. He was involved in a collision with a Mitsubishi Shogun on the A267 at Mayfield at 4pm. The former Mayfield Primary School pupil was rushed to the Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, but died soon after arrival. He had suffered multiple injuries. The 59-year-old driver of the Shogun was not injured. The Rev Nigel Prior said he was pleased that Lawrence's family joined the congregation at his church on Sunday. Parents Ray and Debbie and brother and sister Greg (12) and Sophie (16) were not regular churchgoers but Mr Prior knew them because of his involvement in the village school where Lawrence was a pupil until this summer. All the staff and former staff from the primary school attended the service as did the headteacher of his new school, Heathfield Community College. 'I had no idea so many would be there in support. There was an extraordinary atmosphere,' said Mr Prior. 'It was a normal church service but I tried to respond to that presence.' Mr Prior said the accident was a terrible tragedy for the village because fellow pupils on the bus witnessed the accident and Lawrence's mother heard it and went outside to find her son involved. This week flowers were being placed on a wall of Lawrence's home adjacent to the A267. On Monday Mrs Reeve attended a special assembly at Mayfield Primary School where Lawrence is remembered as 'an enthusiastic, popular, happy boy, who made a big difference to the school,' according to head teacher Janet Taylor. She said he left having been presented with the Sprott Prize, awarded annually after a vote among peers to the most popular boy and girl in Year 6. Mrs Taylor said: 'The whole school has been deeply saddened by his death. His mum joined us in a special assembly this morning. It was very moving and the children were absolutely fantastic in their response, supportive and caring of one another and they went and hugged her.' Headteacher at Heathfield Community College Rob Robinson said: 'We are greatly saddened and shocked by what has happened. Lawrence had only been with us six days but had already started to settle in very well and was enjoying himself.' He added that Lawrence's brother and sister also attended the college and everybody was doing all they could to support them in whatever way they could. 'We have been doing our very best to comfort both Sophie and Greg who have been in school, just being in here with us and their friends,' he said. He added that special assemblies had been held and at Sophie's request a book of condolence was opened to give children the opportunity to write whatever they wanted in support of the family and in memory of Lawrence. The funeral takes place tomorrow (Saturday) at St Dunstan's Church, Mayfield, at 11am.