We are deeply saddened by the death of Stephen Young during a hill walking expedition in Scotland. He is mourned by everyone at City of Westminster College who had the pleasure to know him during his time as a student here.
His funeral – a celebration of his life - takes place today at Rochester Cathedral, Kent, and is being attended by staff and student representatives. At the request of Stephen’s family, bright colours will be worn and donations will be made to Demelza House Children’s Hospice and Scottish Mountain Rescue.
As we have discovered through profiles in the national press and the many tributes being paid in his local community and on social networking sites, Stephen, 18, was a prolific fundraiser – even spending a whole year sleeping in a tent in his back garden for charity. He did this while studying for his GCSEs and told BBC Kent that he found bed rather uncomfortable afterwards!
Having joined the Scouts at age six, he had risen through the ranks to become assistant leader at Ightham Scouts and trustee of Kent Scouts – the County’s youngest trustee. He was also an experienced member of Kent Scouts’ Invicta Mountaineering Club. It says much about Stephen’s modesty that, although we knew him, we did not know just how much he had already achieved for his community.
Stephen chose City of Westminster College because his passionate ambition was to work at the very highest echelons of the sound industry. As a first-year Sound Engineering student, his commitment to this goal had already made a profound impression on those who taught him.
BTEC Music Technology Course Manager Denise Humphreys, who taught Stephen and was his first course tutor, says: “Stephen was an extremely intelligent, friendly, sensitive and talented student. His dream was to work in the film sector and I never doubted for a moment that one day, very soon, he would have accomplished all his goals, despite the high level of competition in the sound and entertainment industries.
“I was not surprised to learn about Stephen’s strong background as a fundraiser – he was a truly generous and kind individual who will be sorely missed.”
Stephen’s friend and classmate Mel Gough says: “Stephen made a huge impact on me during the short time we knew one another and I definitely believed we were to become great friends. The things he had achieved already and the number of people’s lives he touched shows just what an incredible a person he had become.
“He will continue to be an inspiration to me and he will always be in my heart and mind.”
On behalf of everyone at City of Westminster College, we send our sincere condolences to Stephen’s family, friends and community.