A HEADTEACHER has spoken of his pride in fallen soldier Georgie Sparks at the unveiling of a commemorative bench at his old school.

Georgie, from Theydon Mount, was killed just over a year ago during a fire fight in Afghanistan at the age of 19.

To honour his memory, pupils and staff at Debden Park High School teamed up with its Parent Teacher Association and Loughton Town Council to raise money for the bench, made by local artist Ben Platt-Mills.

Headteacher Christian Cavanagh said: “We felt it was right that the school should remember Georgie and mark his tragic death.

"In the week running up to Remembrance Day, we talked to all of the students about those soldiers who have lost their lives fighting for our country.

"The fact that one of those soldiers was once a student here brings it all closer to them.

"We were privileged to be visited by Georgie’s parents on the day the bench was installed and they were obviously very moved by our way of remembering Georgie.

"The school was very proud to have had Georgie as a student here.”

An inscription on the bench reads “In memory of Royal Marine, Georgie Sparks, 1988 – 2008, Our hero”.