Poignant date for event in memory of late teenager

Family, friends and sporting colleagues of a popular Great Amwell teenager who died from a form of Sudden Death Syndrome – are set to pay special tribute to him this weekend. 

Broxbourne Tennis Club is serving up a day of family fun on Sunday to remember sports-mad James Wood, who tragically died in September 2002. 

Named the James Wood Memorial Tournament, it will also raise funds for a charity which helped James’s family deal with their grief after losing the active youngster. 

This will be the second year that the club, in Mill Lane Close, has held a charity tennis day in honour of James – and club chiefs are hoping to make it an annual event. 

The tournament – open to club members – will be a poignant day for James’s parents Gill and Robert, and two younger brothers, as it will be held two days before the anniversary of this death and three days after what would have been his 17^th birthday. 

Despite this, James’s mother Gill says she is “overwhelmed” by the support of the club and she has even had a special trophy made for the tournament winner, inscribed with James’s name on it. 

“It’s a very difficult time for us, but we are thrilled by another tournament being organised in memory of James”, said Gill. 

The event is all about families getting together – and that is a very special message. 

“And it’s wonderful that the proceeds will go towards the charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), which has given our family immense support both in the form of counselling and explaining what might have happened to James.”

James died after collapsing suddenly at the family home in Yearling Close. 

The friendly youngster was a pupil at Haileybury public school near Hoddesdon and was also a member of Broxbourne Tennis Club. 

“James was a nice lad and was liked by everyone here,” said Mike Seymour, head coach at the club. 

“His death was a tragic loss and we want to do whatever we can to support his family.” 

An inquest into James’s death found he had died of SADS (Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome), which is similar to cot death. 

Gill added: “James would have been learning to drive about now and would have just completed his exams.  It’s difficult not to think about these things, but the support and love shown by everyone is a great help in getting us through this time.”