School tribute to trek death boy

Hayden was on a trip to Austria with other pupils from the Howard School

Friends and teachers of a 12-year-old boy who died during a school skiing holiday in Austria have held a black tie assembly in his memory.

Pupils at the Howard School in Rainham, Kent, organised the tribute to Hayden Waller, from Wigmore, after he fell 30ft (9m) on to rocks last Monday.

He was trekking with friends near their hotel in the southern Austrian resort of Mallnitz when the accident happened.

Head boy Dean Baker, 17, said Hayden would be remembered as a "nice lad".

"Every time you saw him he was laughing, joking, smiling," he said.

"He spoke to everyone, he got on with everyone.

"Everyone says exactly the same thing - he was a lovely lad."

Candle-lit

The special assembly was held on the first day back to school after the half-term break.

Hayden's parents, Gary and Hayley Waller, attended the service with their son Arran.

Friends of Hayden read tributes, and the pupils held a minute's silence.

A candle was also lit, which will burn for seven days until the funeral.

Hayden's parents attended the assembly and saw the tributes

Local vicar Canon Alan Vousden, who led the prayers, said: "It was a very quiet affair.

"The head teacher and the head of year and I and one or two other people just gently spoke to the young men there."

He said they "reassured them that the feelings they have are quite normal and hopefully we will be able to work them through".

Thirty-eight boys from the school, aged between 12 and 18, were on the trip to Austria.

Another boy, Rodger Whitlow, 13, suffered minor injuries in the incident.

Mrs Waller has said the family does not blame anyone for what happened.

The school has since set up a support network for Hayden's classmates.