SCHOOL friends and staff came together to celebrate the life of a popular pupil who died from cancer aged nine.

Niamh Storey-Davidson was honoured with a sculpture in the shape of a snowdog called Bobby on the last day of term at Balfour Primary School in Brighton.

The family decided to buy a snowdog as a suitable memory of their daughter.

The auction of the 44 Snowdogs by the Sea in Brighton last December raised £337,000 for the Martlets hospice in Hove.

Mum Gilli Davidson said: “It’s a chance to celebrate our time at Balfour, all of my children have been here.

“Bobby the dog brings fun and colour to the playground and even though future students may not know Niamh a lot of them will hear her story.

“We got Bobby in memory of my daughter.

“She was a twin and her brother Zach is leaving this year so it seemed an ideal time to have a celebration and remember Niamh and say goodbye to Balfour.

“It really does leave a legacy for Niamh’s memory.

“She absolutely loved dogs. Any question you asked sometimes she would just say “get a dog.”

She said the unfinished look of the artwork is symbolic of Niamh as she “was just a little girl and her life was sort of unfinished.”

Emma Knight, head of corporate and major donor giving at The Martlets hospice, said: “Bobby was on the seafront and had been sponsored by Sussex Police.

“It was a joy watching Gilli pass over the bidding paddle and responsibility to her son Zach and watching him bidding on Bobby.”

Headteacher Marcelo Staricoff presented Mrs Davidson with a picture of a tree painted with the fingerprints of all the students at the school.

Addressing Mrs Davidson in his speech, Mr Staricoff said: “We will never forget today and we will never forget you as a family.”

Brighton artist Katherine Griffin designed Bobby and presented Mrs Davidson with a miniature version of the snow dog that will permanently stay at Balfour Primary School.

Miss Griffin said: “After losing both parents to cancer I wanted to make something that was all encompassing about life and death and everything beautiful in-between.

“I wanted it to be like day of the dead but also have ephemeral beautiful nature parts that were also meaningful to my mum.

“That’s why it’s really lovely Gilli and Zach connected with Bobby.”

Last year’s auction at the Corn Exchange, Brighton, drew hundreds of bidders for the fundraising snowdogs which had been on show around Brighton and Hove for several months.

The highest winning bid was £22,000 for Max who was at Hove Museum.