By James HoreA HEARTBROKEN mother has paid tribute to the courage of her son, who has died from leukaemia aged just 22. Josh Markham was diagnosed with the cancer, which affects blood, four years ago and underwent chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

By James Hore

A HEARTBROKEN mother has paid tribute to the courage of her son, who has died from leukaemia aged just 22.

Josh Markham was diagnosed with the cancer, which affects blood, four years ago and underwent chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

But when the champion volleyball player, of Victoria Road, Walton on the Naze, had a relapse, he made a brave choice not to go through any more treatment.

Even as his condition deteriorated, Mr Markham learned to play bass guitar and joined friends, brothers Paul and David Hale, in a band called Stalker.

A CD featuring Mr Markham, who was a postman, was released just before he died on Monday.

His mother, Sally, said everyone who knew her son had taken great strength from the way he had dealt with his illness.

"He made it very easy for us, he never moaned, he never complained – he just got on with it really and we drew a lot of strength from that," she added.

"He packed a lot into his life and once he found out in February that it was back, he made the most of the time he had."

Mrs Markham said doctors had warned her son that another course of chemotherapy would have to be stronger than before and may even have killed him.

So her son decided he would make the most of the time he had rather than suffer more of the draining chemotherapy.

"I think he made his mind up relatively quickly after the doctors told him – he was very calm and very matter of fact about it all," she added.

Mr Markham loved volleyball and played in the side at Tendring Technology College, Frinton, and also represented his country in a school's world cup.

At 6ft 6in tall, he was ideal for the sport and even had trials for England at one stage.

Mr Markham had been a pupil at Hamford Primary School in Walton on the Naze before he went on to Tendring Technology College.

He leaves behind his father Peter, mother Sally, older brother Tom, 26 and girlfriend, Kate Bowdrey, 20.

A thanksgiving service will be held at Frinton Free Church on June 17.

james.hore@eadt.co.uk