FRIENDS of a girl who died suddenly while on a school trip have held a rugby match in her memory. Sixth formers at Oundle School held the match in tribute to Thomasin Purbrook, to raise money for the Meningitis Trust. The 18-year old from Melbourn, who w

FRIENDS of a girl who died suddenly while on a school trip have held a rugby match in her memory.

Sixth formers at Oundle School held the match in tribute to Thomasin Purbrook, to raise money for the Meningitis Trust.

The 18-year old from Melbourn, who was known to her friends as Thommy, died of meningococcal disease while on a school trip to St Petersburg, Russia, in December last year.

A keen rugby player herself, Thommy would have been captain of her school team for the coming season.

The school's headmaster Charles Bush said: "There have been many expressions of grief and great sadness over the last two months as a result of the tragic loss of Thommy.

"The match celebrated the excellent state of girls' rugby at Oundle, which is so strong, partly as a result of Thommy's massive contribution to the growth of the game over the last two years."

More than �8,000 was raised on the day of the match.