FRIENDS and relatives of Tony Ballard who died while swimming in the river Severn will today gather to remember the popular teenager – exactly a year after the tragedy.

Tony was just 17 when he got into difficulty while attempting to swim across the river with three friends, close to Worcester’s Pitchcroft. Despite his friends’ desperate attempts to help him, and a frantic search of the water, his body was eventually recovered close to the spot where he disppeared.

His parents, the Rev Duncan, vicar of St Mark’s, Cherry Orchard, and Ellie Ballard of Jasmine Close, St Peter’s, Worcester, released a statement to mark the anniversary of his death, in which they said it was “hard to believe” that 12 months had passed.

“We miss him dreadfully and there hasn't been a day when we don't think of him,” they said.

“The loyalty of his friends, and the love and support of the city and Diocese of Worcester has kept us going during the last year.

“Even though we were unable to reply to all the cards and letters we received at the time, the messages of sympathy meant so much to us. Thank you.”

Hundreds of Tony’s friends were today planning a remembrance walk for him organised on social networking site Facebook.

The teenager was a student at Worcester College of Technology and a former pupil of Bishop Perowne CE College in Merriman’s Hill.

Yesterday, Julie Farr, headteacher at Bishop Perowne, said: “The school is doing several things today to remember Tony. The candlestick that was made in honour of him will burn on our altar all day in remembrance of him and some of the children will have time to quietly reflect and remember him in our worship spaces. At our staff meeting last Monday, we dedicated out prayers to his family.

“The rose garden we promised to have done we hope to complete in the autumn if the weather is right. Since his death we have had more talks on water safety and raised awareness. His was a loss that cut deeply into the hearts and minds of both pupils and teachers.”