By James HoreFAMILY and friends have paid tribute to the “amazing” sense of humour and caring manner of a 15-year-old boy who died in a car crash.Andrew Skeet, of Firwoods Road, Halstead, was a pupil at the town's Ramsey School and many emotional school friends attended yesterday's thanksgiving service at nearby St Andrew's Church.

By James Hore

FAMILY and friends have paid tribute to the “amazing” sense of humour and caring manner of a 15-year-old boy who died in a car crash.

Andrew Skeet, of Firwoods Road, Halstead, was a pupil at the town's Ramsey School and many emotional school friends attended yesterday's thanksgiving service at nearby St Andrew's Church.

The teenager died after a car in which he was passenger collided with a wooden telegraph pole in Halstead on December 18.

Hundreds of people in the packed church heard he would be remembered for laughter that surrounded his life and his unselfish ways.

Two of Andrew's teachers, Keith Harris and Dave Gerard, spoke of his popularity with girls and his love of skateboarding and basketball.

An unfinished painting by Andrew, entitled Beginning, which the teenager had been working on in his art class, stood next to the pulpit throughout the memorial service.

Andrew's brother Jonathan gave a eulogy on behalf of their father and also spoke of the how the teenager would borrow his clothes and how their tastes in music clashed.

As he finished the emotional tribute with the words “We love you Andy”, applause rang around the congregation.

One of his school friends told the congregation how Andrew had “loved his life and loved his art”, while another said “he had it all going for him”.

The Rev John Blore spoke on behalf of Andrew's mother, and said: “If you had given him a tick list for his life, he would have ticked them all. Everything he did, he did it wholeheartedly.”

In a statement, Andrew's parents Rod and Lisa said: “As a family, we are experiencing the saddest time of our lives with the loss of Andrew.

“We have received overwhelming support from family and friends for which we thank them all.”

Andrew was the second eldest child of five - he had three brothers, Jonathan, Michael and David, and a sister, Stephanie.

n A 15-year-old boy has been arrested and questioned on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and released on bail to appear at a police station at a later date.

james.hore@eadt.co.uk