STUDENTS at an Evesham school heard about fundraising done in the memory of a former pupil at their annual speech day.

Sue Sollis was at Price Henry's speech day and prize giving ceremony to talk about her daughter who died after battling leukaemia.

Mrs Sollis spoke movingly about Tracy, who was a pupil at Prince Henry's from 1992-1995, and whose death inspired her to set up the Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust.

Students heard that Mrs Sollis organised sponsored parachute jumps and swims, despite her fear of heights and, at the time she made the commitment, the fact she was unable to swim.

Pupils also heard from Debbie Edmondson, a trustee of the charity and best friend to Tracy, who told prize winners she had sat where they were 20 years ago and never expected to return to the school as guest speaker.

Her message was that all students had the potential to succeed and achieve in ways that may now seem unimaginable.

Prizes were presented to 100 students in front of their families, local dignitaries, prize donors and staff.

Headteacher Tony Evans spoke about the school's busy year and members of the Clarinet Ensemble provided an interlude with a rendition of Mozart’s Divertimento No. 2 and Henry Mancini’s Moon River.

A cheque for £1,400 was handed to Mrs Sollis for her trust by representatives of the school’s Interact group, as a result of various fundraising activities that have been undertaken at Prince Henry’s during the past year.

Dr Evans said: “Speech Day is always a highlight in our school calendar and it is always a pleasure to celebrate the success of our students with their families and friends.

"We felt particularly proud and privileged this year to be able to be able to welcome Sue Sollis and Debbie Edmondson back to Prince Henry’s and to see first hand the very strong connection they still feel with the school.

"The story of Tracy Sollis and the Foundation that bears her name is one that deeply touched all of us who were in the audience, and I am delighted that Prince Henry’s students, through their fundraising efforts this year, have been able to contribute to the wonderful work that the Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust does.”

The event took place on Friday, July 1.