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Cranbrook School memorial football match for Joe Atkins and Freddie McLennan who died in Bolivia

A school is holding a memorial football match for two former pupils who died in a car crash in South America.

Joe Atkins and Freddie McLennan, who both went to Cranbrook School, both died in Bolivia on June 9 this year.

Freddie McLennan and Joe Atkins
Freddie McLennan and Joe Atkins

The event, with a lunch and a raffle, will be at the school on Saturday with proceeds going to charities for young people. It starts at 11.30am.

There will be two games beginning with a charity match between the Sam West Foundation and Football Beyond Borders at noon.

Joe's sister Jess will speak in memory of the boys at 1.15pm.

The Joe and Freddie Memorial Match itself will be between The Blues and The Reds teams from 1.30pm.

The youngsters had been travelling during a five-month gap period at the time of the crash on the Salar de Uyuni salt flats and had been due to come home on June 14.

Joe Atkins died in Bolivia
Joe Atkins died in Bolivia

The Sam West Foundation raises awareness and support for young people with mental health difficulties.

It was set up by Ben West, a school friend of Joe's.

Joe's family previously paid respect to a son that gave them "endless pride".

They said: "Joe had a character brimming with kindness and humility, and anyone that knew him was struck by his understated yet self-assured nature. Quietly intuitive, he always knew the right thing to say, and the role that he decided to play as the calming presence and fiercely loyal friend, will be forever appreciated by those that knew him.

"Always seeking the fun side of life as a little boy, he grew up to be a young man that loved family dog walks as much as nights out with friends, and he remained quietly ambitious and determined in his pursuit of a career in engineering, for which he achieved such fantastic A Level results.

"In a recent call to his family, he was clearly so elated with the adventure he'd been sharing with his best friends. He said just how much we was looking forward to being back to enjoy home comforts, and to move on to the next stage at the University of Bristol.

'The role he decided to play as the calming presence and fiercely loyal friend will be forever appreciated.'

"Joey was the son that gave us endless pride, the brother that brought laughter to our home and the friend that you'd always want by your side.

“The Atkins family have set up a Just Giving page in memory of Joe. All proceeds will go to The Sam West Foundation, which raises awareness and support for young people with mental health difficulties. Set up by Ben West, Sam's brother and Joe's school friend, Joe would have been delighted to have supported this brilliant charity."

Freddie McLennan
Freddie McLennan

Freddie McLennan's family said friends had lost a "special individual".

They said: “Freddie was an exceptional young man. As a son, brother, grandson, cousin and friend to all those who knew him, he was as caring as he was fun to be with.

“He excelled at school and his exam results were a source of great pride.

“He was thoroughly enjoying his opportunity to travel and experience new parts of the world, before preparing for the next stage in his life at Leeds University.

“The friends he made through Cranbrook school and the different sports clubs he played with over the years, know they have also lost a special individual.

“We are eternally grateful that Freddie came into our lives. We are struggling to come to terms with his passing. He brought a joy and love to us, which we will always remember, but miss greatly.

“His whole family would ask you to respect their privacy at this extremely difficult time.”

If you want further details and want to attend see further details on the event website.

Read more: All the latest news from Tunbridge Wells

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