Dorset pupil dies after battle with brain tumour at 13

Shaun Colvin was a bright boy who suffered from a brain tumour for many years.

He was also a much loved year 9 pupil at Lytchett Minster School near Poole in Dorset.

Shaun enjoyed school and was awarded the title of ‘most promising scientist’ at last year's prizegiving. 

Outside of school, Shaun was actively involved in the scout movement and achieved an impressive number of badges.

He was always very proud to wear his scout uniform in school on Remembrance Day.

Before his death, Shaun visited Naples with his fellow students and visited stunning locations such as Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.

A week after returning from Naples, on April 7, Shaun’s heart stopped beating.

Headteacher Andrew Mead, said: “This has been a difficult few weeks for the school. The death of a child is a tragic event.

“It goes against the natural order of things.

“We have done all we can to support our students as they come to terms with losing a classmate.

“Some students saw their teachers crying as they talked about Shaun and the sadness they felt at his passing.

“We felt it was important that staff be open with students about their own feelings.”

Shaun’s mother wrote to Andrew Mead, on his return from his Italian adventure, saying: “I am so very grateful to Shaun’s teachers for giving him this opportunity, he has just been filling me in on every detail and has had the most incredible time.

“Eight years ago, we were not sure of his future and even at that young age he set his sights on having as many experiences as he could, especially involving travel.

“When he could not run around like the other children, he would sit for hours reading books about foreign shores and planned to see as much of the world as he could.

“Although he was never in any doubt we were unsure we would ever reach the point of him venturing far without us so this has been an enormous milestone.”