Memorial gathering to pay tribute to 'Soldier' Cain Westcarr, 12

DEVASTATED mum Veronica Lee has paid tribute to her 'soldier' Cain Westcarr, who died aged 12.

Miss Lee, 34, described her son as a "defender who was always looking out for others".

"That is why so many of his friends called him a soldier – because he was looking out for them," said Miss Lee, who is also mum to six other children.

The tribute came as friends and family gathered outside the old Star 66 youth club opposite his home in Seymour Road on Thursday. Cain attended it before it closed last year.

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Around 30 of Cain's classmates wrote tributes on big white boards before family friend Caroline Morse read a statement from his family.

It read: "Cain's death was a terrible accident.

"The family would like to thank all of Cain's friends from Linden and Coney Hill for the support they have shown us.

"The funeral will be held at St Paul's Church on Monday, July 2 at 2pm and the internment will follow at Coney Hill Cemetery at 3pm.

"It will be a red theme with all friends welcome to bring a single red carnation or rose.

"The family is hoping to obtain some red helium balloons which groups of the children will be able to purchase for a £1 donation towards a charity which is to be decided."

Cain's grandmother Ruth Lee told The Citizen: "He was really really popular and had a lot of girls interested in him. He was very popular at school. It was a tragic accident."

His father Grant Westcarr said: "When Cain was younger he was a very quiet boy and kept himself to himself. At that point he did not have many friends.

"But then he blossomed into a very popular kid. I am going to miss him a lot."

Cain also leaves behind six siblings – Kai Westcarr, 13, Callum Westcarr, 10, Kian Westcarr, eight, Camron Westcarr, six, Danny-Lee Daldry, three, and Tae Munsung, nine months.

Beaufort Community School friends Shannon Birch, 14, and Georgia Fricker, 13, found a poem by Natasha Doucet which they felt reflected Cain's character.

Part of it read: "His smile and face will never fade."

Shannon said "It talks about his smile. You would never see him with a sad face as he was always happy and cheerful."

Georgia said: "It doesn't feel real that he is gone. It feels like a bad dream which we haven't woken up from."

The family added the Star 66 club in their thanks and said in a statement: "Special thanks go to Delroy Ellis, who ran the youth club at Star 66, who has been a great comfort to the parents, their children and Cain's friends. He continues to be a great friend and support to all the local children and he is striving to open a youth provision in the Linden area.

"The children of the community have started a petition for a youth club back in the Linden area which we would like as many people as possible to sign.

"We're hoping to leave the forms in the Co-operative on the corner of Seymour Road."