Scores to attend funeral of popular New Forest teen Ross Haughey (From Bournemouth Echo)

Scores to attend funeral of popular New Forest teen Ross Haughey

11:00am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News By Andy Martin

IT will be a chance for family and friends to say their goodbyes to a much-loved Hampshire student.

Scores of people are expected to pack out a New Forest church for an emotional farewell to 17-year-old Ross Haughey at his funeral next week.

Among them will be his fellow pupils and friends from Burgate School and Sixth Form in Fordingbridge, where Ross was excelling in his A-level studies and described by teachers as one of the most able students in the school.

As reported by the Daily Echo, Ross was found dead by a member of the public walking near Linwood a week ago today, three days after he went out for a walk and failed to return to his family home in Frogham.

His anxious parents Brian and Penny raised the alarm with police and a large-scale search involving officers and search and rescue volunteers got underway.

They were assisted by kind hearted members of the public and students who were desperate to do what they could to find the teenager and bring him home.

But the search was called off last Wednesday afternoon following the discovery of Ross’s body in woodland.

A post-mortem examination was carried out but proved inconclusive. Toxicology tests are now being undertaken, meaning it could be weeks before the details of how the popular student died are known.

Paying tribute, his family said Ross would be desperately missed and they would love him forever.

The funeral takes place at 3.30pm next Thursday, March 14, at Hyde Church, Hyde.

Ross’s family have asked for family flowers only but anyone who wishes can make a donation in his memory to the Stars Appeal, raising money for children at Salisbury District Hospital, by contacting John Shering funeral directors in Fordingbridge.