THE great aunt and uncle of a six-year-old boy who tragically died after falling into the River Stour last year are appealing for support to buy a headstone for his grave.

Jonathan Schofield

THE great aunt and uncle of a six-year-old boy who tragically died after falling into the River Stour last year are appealing for support to buy a headstone for his grave.

Alan Lock, the son of Allan and Sharon Lock, of Acton, near Sudbury, was on an organised Beaver ramble along the banks of the river last June when he fell in and drowned.

To help his parents afford a headstone for his grave, Alan's great aunt and uncle, Chris and Maggie Young, of Sturdee Avenue, Ipswich, are organising a dance and fundraising evening.

Mrs Young, 58, a nurse at Ipswich Hospital, said: “My nephew and his wife lost their son in a terrible accident and as you can imagine the family are suffering enormously.

“My husband and I decided to hold a dance on March 20 at Acton Village Hall to raise money for the Little Alan Memorial Fund so that we can pay to put a headstone on Alan's grave later this year.”

Mrs Young and her husband Chris, 60, a supervisor responsible for painting helicopters at RAF Wattisham, said all of the money raised will go towards the �2,000 headstone and to support the family at such a difficult time.

She said the community was already getting behind the night with local band The Evidence playing for free and the bar Dragon Drinks giving their services for free.

An Auction of Promises will also take place which includes three opportunities to buy flights in a light aircraft.

“It has been a very very tough year for Alan's mum and dad and they are taking little steps at a time in their recovery but it is still very early days,” Mrs Young added.

Alan was a member of the 1st Acton and Waldingfield Scout Group aged between six and eight who were conducting a nature walk along the banks of the Stour on June 17.

The youngster fell into the water close to an old railway bridge crossing the river in Sudbury at about 7pm.

Scout leaders managed to pull him from the water and tried to resuscitate him on the river bank before paramedics arrived.

He was taken to West Suffolk Hospital for further treatment but died later that night.

Within hours of the Acton school boy's death, flowers, football shirts and tributes were draped across the river bank and along railings on the bridge.

In a statement from Alan's parents released shortly after the tragedy Alan's parents said: “Our son was a kind, honest and gentle well-liked boy, fun-loving and always smiling. We are shocked and devastated to have lost our son Alan, big brother to Adam. He touched the lives of everyone he came into contact with,

and he will always be missed by his family and friends.”

Tickets for the dance, priced �10, are available from the Crown pub and Bob's Stores in Acton and Great Waldingfield Stores.

For more information and ticket sales call Mrs Young on 01473 434955.