Charity tennis tournament nets £400

A smashing day of family fun at a charity tennis tournament in memory of a popular teenager raised more than £400. 

Forty parents and children paired up for the second James Wood annual charity tournament at Broxbourne Tennis Club in Mill Lane Close.  James, from Great Amwell, died from a form of Sudden Death Syndrome – similar to cot death in babies – in September 2002. 

The winning team of the day, Paul and Steve Andrews, from Hoddesdon, was presented with a trophy donated by James’s mum Gill Wood, who had it specially inscribed for the event. 

The cash will go to the charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in Young People) which gave James’s family, of Yearling Close, immense support after his tragic death. 

“It was an excellent day and not only did everyone have a great time but we also managed to raise a decent amount for the charity,” said head coach at the club, Mike Seymour. 

“James was a popular member here and he is greatly missed.  His death was a tragic loss and we are hoping to make this an annual event.” 

James died suddenly just days after his 15^th birthday.  He was a very active youngster and loved taking part in a variety of sports including football, rugby, tennis and sailing. 

The friendly teenager was a pupil at Haileybury public school near Hoddeson.