Bullied girl planned her funeral

Laura Grimes left instructions for her own funeral

A 14-year-old girl who was bullied at school in Bristol planned her own funeral and even left a will before killing herself, it has emerged.

Laura Grimes' parents have decided to publicise the collection of documents and letters they discovered after her death.

The full impact of the letters had not been revealed to them until after an inquest into the teenager's death.

One of the letters, which described her daily ordeal of physical and verbal abuse, was intended to be read aloud at her funeral.

Never pick on anyone else

Laura Grimes' letter for the bullies

It read: "Don't worry about me, I have gone up above where I really want to be, no bullies, no school, just happiness."

Before her suicide in July 2001, Laura had been looking forward to being a bridesmaid at her sister's wedding.

She had been popular with a close circle of friends and her parents had no idea of what was happening to her.

Her mother Susan Grimes said: "There were absolutely no outward signs at all. It is very difficult to detect.

Close family

"She comes from a very close family and nobody in the family had any idea at all.

"We did not know why it had happened until after the inquest when all the letters and the pile of documents that she had left were actually passed on to us. It was a tremendous shock.

"I don't think anyone can understand what it is like going in at 0700 to call your daughter for school, and finding that she is dead."

Another letter intended for the bullies themselves warned them that they "should never pick on anyone else".

On 20 September the Avon and District coroner Paul Forrest recorded a verdict of suicide.

Plea to understand

In her hand written will Laura told people to "live a normal life" after her departure.

In a statement, Derek Hall, head teacher of Mangotsfield school, said her death had caused much upset and grief.

"Laura always seemed a happy and contented girl at school," he said.

If any parent phones in, reporting that their son or daughter is being bullied, it is thoroughly investigated and a record is kept.

"We received no such call from Mrs Grimes. We have a trained counsellor on site and we have individual and group mentoring on a regular basis.

"Laura did not make use of these confidential services," he said.