EXACTLY a year on from the sudden death of popular Ipswich man David Halley-Frame, his friends, family and colleagues gathered to celebrate the young asthmatic's life.

EXACTLY a year on from the sudden death of popular Ipswich man David Halley-Frame, his friends, family and colleagues gathered to celebrate the young asthmatic's life.

In a heartfelt tribute to the 25-year-old, those who knew and loved him converged on the grounds of St Clements Hospital in Ipswich for a football match in his memory.

Two teams made up of his former workmates at the hospital, where he was a healthcare assistant, and his close friends and family battled it out on the pitch in a friendly match on the first anniversary of his death.

The family and friends team came out on top, winning 6-4, but the day was less about the scoreline and more about remembering Mr Halley-Frame.

Janice Plumb, Mr Halley-Frame's aunt, said: “It was a fantastic afternoon.

“We spent the afternoon talking about David, celebrating his life if you like.

“During the morning we laid our flowers and had our private moments but for everyone who knew David to get together in the afternoon the way they did was a brilliant way to spend the day of his anniversary.”

Mrs Plumb also paid tribute to Mr Halley-Frame's friends, who she said had been a huge support for his mother Diane throughout the past year.

“They've just been so brilliant,” she said.

Sunday's match was the second to be held in Mr Halley-Frame's memory, following a similar game a few months after his death on August 27 last year.

The game was a chance for those close to him to remember his love for football and his love for life.

The friendly game was followed by a social event in the hospital's social centre and it included a fundraising barbecue and raffles which raised money for Asthma UK.

The colleagues and friends are hopeful the match will become an annual event, as a way to mark their lasting friendship.

Mr Halley-Frame died in Ipswich Hospital after collapsing in Upper Orwell Street from a severe asthma attack.

His friends and passers by battled to save him but an ambulance did not arrive for 31 minutes. Greater Suffolk coroner Dr Peter Dean later found that if help had arrived sooner there was a chance Mr Halley-Frame could have been saved.

N If you have a memory of David you wish to share write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk