Friends reunite to honour classmate from Lewes school who fell overboard

David Haw went missing in Poole Harbour in May. His body was later recovered.

Will Davies, Chris Mayhew, Lukes Fines, Elliot Taylor, Jacob Hamilton, Fred Regan, Jacob Beauchamp, Daisy Blewitt, George Read and Molly Davies returned to Lewes Old Grammar School (LOGS) to join up with hundreds of current pupils who were taking part in the annual sponsored 14-mile walk across the South Downs. 

The walk takes place every year to raise funds for chosen charities, with some pupils donning fancy dress.

Friends of David joined the walk, which takes place every year to raise funds for chosen charities ...

... with some pupils donning fancy dress

This year the money raised will go to the Bone Cancer Research Trust and the RNLI, which carried out extensive searches along with the police and the coastguard in the days after the incident to try to recover David’s body.

Will and his friends asked for sponsorship to go direct to a Just Giving page for the RNLI, started by David’s mother Gill, which has now raised more than £14,000. 

Mr Davies said: “David was an incredible gent who lived every day to the full – always doing something extraordinary and achieving more in his 24 years than some of us dream of doing.

“As heartbreaking as the loss of David has been for us, it’s incredible to see how many people’s lives he came into and how so many people saw him as the amazing individual he was. 

“The 14 miles we covered on the day were those we had often walked with David and they brought back lots of happy memories for us all.

“With more than 500 students walking, as well as friends of David’s, it made for a truly incredible day and was a sight to see with everyone dotted over the South Downs.

“David loved good company and challenging himself and it was fantastic to see the LOGS community embracing the walk. We hope David is looking down on us and can see how much he meant to us all.” 

More than 500 students joined the walk

LOGS raised around £7,000 for the RNLI and Bone Cancer Research Trust. 

Robert Blewitt, headmaster at the school, said: “We came up with the idea of the annual walk back in 2005 because we wanted the school to come together as a community and raise money for charities close to the school.

“This year it felt really special – showing how LOGS pupils past and present look after each other, are thoughtful and always try to make a positive change.”