FRIENDS and family paid tribute to popular club cricketer Simon Wright by fundraising in his memory.The happy-go-lucky 18-year-old had his life cruelly cut short in December last year after his car hit a tree.

FRIENDS and family paid tribute to popular club cricketer Simon Wright by fundraising in his memory.

The happy-go-lucky 18-year-old had his life cruelly cut short in December last year after his car hit a tree.

Easton Cricket Club rallied round and organised a sponsored six-aside tournament in his memory on the May bank holiday and raised an incredible £1,248 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Friends and family, including Simon's parents, Carol, 46, and Nigel, 49 and two of his sisters: Vicky, 24 and Samantha, 25, attended a gathering at the cricket club on Sunday where the cheque was handed to EAAA fundraising co-ordinator Patsy Johnson.

On the day a trophy dedicated to Simon, called The Simon Wight Memorial Shield, was presented to the captain of the winning side, Glen's Road Runner.

Fred Mitchell, chairman of the ECC, said the tournament is to become an annual club event.

He said: "Players were sponsored so much per run. Everyone rallied round. So raise this much money was fantastic. It is a fine tribute and a huge amount for a small club to raise."

Simon's father, who lives in Easton, was delighted with the club's efforts and said: "Easton Cricket Club is a fantastic club.

"It is a small village but they have so many teams. It encourages the youngsters to play."

Simon, a long-standing member of the club, was a Level One coach.

He had been playing cricket since he was six and was planning to go to university to train as a PE teacher.

During his gap year he was a volunteer in the PE department at Debenham High School.

Simon was travelling to Leiston on December 4 the day of the crash to pick up his girlfriend, Natalie Coleman, 19. The couple had planned to go to Brighton, where Natalie was at University.

He was involved in a single car crash at Glevering Hall, just outside Easton. He was transferred to Addenbrookes' hospital in Cambridge with serious head injuries where he died a week later.

Pictures of Simon from his younger to more recent days were on display at the club on the day, including a photograph album entitled: "My Mate Simon." Evening Star editor Nigel Pickover also attended on the day in support of the event.

Simon's sister Vicky is a lady's team captain and coach at Easton Cricket Club. She described her ex-Thomas Mills High brother as "Friendly, popular, cheeky and outgoing."

Delighted with the support she said: "Everyone pulled together.

"The club itself survives on fundraising so to raise this much on top of that is unbelievable."

She said the club has between 60 to 70 youngsters on its books and is a focal point in the village.

The EAAA serves Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridge and costs £2,000 a day to run.

After Simon's death the family asked people to donate to the EAAA and Addenbrookes' Hospital instead of buying flowers.