A two-day regatta organised by Broxbourne Sailing Club raised money in memory of James Wood, a 15-year-old Great Amwell lad who passed away suddenly in September 2002. 

James, of Yearling Close, died of a suspected heart condition at Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) in Harlow three years ago having collapsed at home just five days after celebrating his 15^th birthday.  The youngster had been a member of the 1^st Broxbourne Scouts, which meets off High Road, Broxbourne, and was a keen sailor. 

In the wake of his death, friends at the club in Meadgate Road, Nazeing, decided to start an annual competition in his honour, the James Wood Memorial Cup.  This year the cup was absorbed into the club’s yearly regatta held at the sailing club’s base last weekend. 

Among those invited to take part were pupils from Haileybury public school near Hoddesdon – which James attended – and members of his Scout troop. 

James’s mother Gill Wood, 47, said: “When a child dies, it’s good to have a memorial to them because they haven’t been around that long to make their own impact.” 

The £200 raised from the weekend’s event will be given to the CRY charity (Cardiac Risk in the Young) after a memorial fund set up in James’s name was closed.  Mrs Wood told the Mercury that the fund was wound-up after £7,500 was donated to PAH to fit out a resource room in the new cardiac unit which opened in August.  The room will be named in memory of her son. 

Apart from sailing, James was a keen tennis player so earlier this month Broxbourne Tennis Club, in Mill Lane Close, staged its annual parents and children’s tournament in his memory. 

Twenty-five pairs entered the tournament, which raised £365 for CRY.