School to honour popular pupil who died suddenly

Lydia Price, a Year Nine pupil at Oxford Spires Academy, had secretly listed on her phone all her ambitions, and it was only in the days after her death that her family stumbled across it.

Last night they were still searching for answers as to why the teenager died, but said discovering the list was comforting.

Lydia’s grandmother Kathy Hamilton, from William Morris Court in Barton, said: “It says a lot about her quest for knowledge, wanting to help people, and wanting to achieve not just in education but in other areas of life.

“She loved school. She was a very deep thinker for her age and she would have achieved a lot.

“She wanted to change the world.”

She said the family, who also found unseen poems written by Lydia on her phone, were delighted to hear about the school award.

She added: “It keeps her memory alive.”

The youngster from Coriander Way in Greater Leys passed away suddenly of natural causes on Monday, January 23, at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, but the exact cause has not yet been discovered.

Her family spoke to the Oxford Mail yesterday as plans were being made by teachers to set up an award for other hard-working pupils in her memory.

Mrs Hamilton added: “We are all shocked at her death. We still can’t believe it. The family is numb.”

Lydia’s mother Kate Daniels, 38, of Coriander Way, said: “I am heartbroken and devastated by the sudden loss of my beautiful Lydia.”

Lydia leaves two sisters, Erin Daniels, 22, and Luvenia Price, 19, as well as her dad Michael Price, of Herschel Crescent, Littlemore.

The new award will be called the Lydia Price Trophy for Excellence Through Endeavour and will be handed out every February.

Spires headteacher Sue Croft said: “The list shows what an outstanding student she was – that determination to succeed. It is so ambitious.

“She had started to shine in the academy, she could have gone to Oxford University. It is so tragic.”

Lydia’s list is to be framed and put in a new Christian reflection room the school is planning to create.

Lydia also played the guitar and the school is also to launch a scholarship for lessons in her name.

The former Pegasus Primary School pupil was also hoping to raise money for the Meningitis Trust after her four-year-old cousin Charlotte Nott – whose mum Jenny is sisters with Kate – lost the lower parts of her limbs to the disease.

About 200 people came to Lydia’s funeral at St James’ Church, Cowley, on Friday, February 10.

The Michael Jackson fan had his lyrics written on her coffin. She was then buried at Wolvercote Cemetery.

Her family, who are now being supported by the Sudden Adult Death Trust, wanted to thank bereavement staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital, the school, and the church for their support.

Lydia's School and Year 9 Promises

100 per cent attendance – no days off

Join in and sign up for everything

Do house public speaking

Do house art

Do house performing arts

Write Mr and Mrs Coakley a poem for their baby

‘Take part’ in Spanish more

Carry on poems

Join Writing Club

Join Poetry Club

Write poems with the school poet Kate Clanchy

Get poetry book published

Go to Tennis Club

Study

Revise during summer and any chance I have

Do busking in the Atrium

Be apart of the Tolkien Band

Become head girl

Become performing arts prefect

Have planner out on desk ALL THE TIME

Be on Tolkien basketball team

Be on Tolkien tennis team

Get full colours

Get awards

Work hard

Be noticed

Continue bass guitar

Continue piano

Learn electric guitar

Become house student captain

Go to open evenings

Represent the school

Have a sixth form interview and do great at it

Take part in everything

Join in the winter concert performance

Be in Tolkien’s Got Talent

Help out in school evenings

Join in on House Enterprise

Sign up for Sports Day events and win

Carry on with art

Become Prom Queen

Win Prom Queen Awards

Attend Aim Higher events

Be a subject prize winner

Be better then Rup, Chup, Ben and Lewis.