THE mum of a teenager who died suddenly has called a music festival in his memory a “heart-warming tribute”.

Luis Temple, 15, a Chantry School pupil, died at home on February 11 with LUISFEST then held on Friday (July 6) on the school playing field and attended by 450 people.

“It was a heart-warming tribute to Luis – it really showed how many people do care and just how many people knew him,” said Alison Temple, from Stourport-on-Severn.

“It’s the end of his year group – they’ve finished school, so it was a fitting tribute as they all prepare to leave and move to the future.”

Event organiser Maria Masters, who was Luis’ music teacher for five years, said the festival was an idea she had had not long after the teenager died due to his love of music.

A keen bass player, Luis was also part of Mrs Masters’ Rock School, which met after school, and the festival was “born out of that”, she explained.

“It was outdoors because he was such a fun-loving young lad and it was more appropriate than a formal event.

“Music was something he was passionate about, making music with others – he’d only just finished his GCSE coursework. I’ve got some of the recordings he made with his band, which is something very special.”

The festival programme was made up of pupils, many of whom had written songs about Luis – while there were also other activities like Zorb football and inflatable sumo wrestling.

The latter idea came from when Luis had come to school dressed in an inflatable sumo wrestling costume.

“It just demonstrated the sort of guy he was,” said Mrs Masters. “He was a unique character, who was always happy and friends with everyone.”

Mrs Masters said amongst the tribute messages left at the memorial services to Luis in February, the phrase ‘Fly High Luis’ featured heavily.

“People had written that a lot – I wanted to do something to give a sense of flying high,” she said.

“So, we had everyone spell out his name on the school field and took photos using a drone.”

Asked whether Luis’ death had had an impact on how the school deals with students’ mental wellbeing, she said the school community “has always been very close-knit”.

“We do have a really good pastoral support system, a learning support unit and student wellbeing is absolutely at the top of our list. We see it as part of their education.”

An open verdict was given at Luis’ inquest on June 27, with coroner David Reid saying while it appeared to be a deliberate act, “it’s not possible to reach a conclusion as to his intentions”.

Mrs Masters went on to say: “It felt very wrong when we attended Louis’ funeral – it’s very wrong to go to any child’s funeral. I have three teenage sons myself, so it hit me hard.”

“It’s not something any of us expected or can come to terms with – he was so full of life. He was always so happy and positive – he’d give people hi-fives and say ‘alright mate’ to everyone – people he didn’t even know.

“He was one of those characters, he wanted to make everybody feel good.”

Mrs Temple and Luis’ dad Wayne Temple set up a crowdfunding campaign to pay for a ‘buddy bench’ to be place outside the music room, which raised £4,500.

Luis was described by Mrs Master as a “little boy lost” when he first started at the school before building up a wide network of friends.

‘Luis’ Buddy Bench’ – shaped like a bass clef and made of solid oak – was eventually donated for free by a business contact of one of the dads at The Chantry.

The money has instead gone towards a music studio at the school, named after Luis.

“There’s a mixing desk and state-of-the-art microphones and we’re really looking forward to recording bands in there,” said Mrs Masters.

“A student has also designed a Luis plaque to put in the room with some of the students’ comments from the memorial on it,” she added.