Clive and Judy Meekings unveiled the bench in memory of their son Scott. Picture: Ian Burt

Relatives and friends of a popular Dereham teenager who died mysteriously on a fishing trip last year unveiled a bench in his memory yesterday.

Scott Meekings who died whilst on a fishing trip on Coston Lakes. Picture: Matthew Usher.

Fund-raising has been carried out in memory of Scott Meekings who drowned while on an overnight fishing trip at Coston Lakes between Wymondham and Dereham in June last year.

He was aged 16 and the circumstances around his death remain a mystery.

Scott’s friend Liam Wilson raised funds by asking for donations for wristbands in memory of Scott which he designed.

Scott’s uncle Adrian Hooper organised a golf day which included golfers from Dereham and Fakenham golf clubs generously donating prizes and trophies for the event.

Several Dereham and Fakenham shops also donated raffle prizes and trophies for the golf day.

Money raised from these activities and from donations given at Scott’s funeral paid for the new bench at Dereham Recreation Ground.

Some money also went towards purchasing extra speakers for Scott’s friends and equipment for the new design and technology classroom at The Douglas Bader School in Coltishall, where he was a pupil.

Scott’s favourite subjects in school were woodwork and design and he built a pair of speakers from scratch

The classroom has been named The Scott Meekings Design and Technology Room in his honour.

Scott’s friends raised some additional funds for a plaque on the bench which states: ‘In Loving Memory of SCOTT MEEKINGS 1995-2012. Forever in our hearts. One Unity One Community.’

Scott’s parents Clive and Judy Meekings attended the bench unveiling yesterday.

Mrs Meekings said: “We really want to thank everyone who has helped with the fund-raising and who gave a donation in Scott’s memory.

“His friends have all contributed and we are very grateful to them.

“We want to thank Liam Wilson, in particular as he co-ordinated a lot of the fund-raising.

“He is a really top lad and he keeps in touch, as do many of Scott’s friends, to see how we are doing, which is really nice.

“The bench is a very fitting tribute. Scott used to come down to Dereham Rec all the time, this was his place.”

Scott was fishing alone overnight for the first time when his body was found one metre from the shore.

He went out on the night of June 27 and his body was discovered in the lake by another fisherman at around 3.30pm the next day.

Mrs Meekings said: “We have been told that we will probably never know how Scott ended up in the water that day, it is just something we have to come to terms with.

“It doesn’t get any easier for us to come to terms with everything and days like today are very emotional for us.

“But it is lovely to see Scott’s friends still thinking of him and doing all of this for him.

“I’m sure Scott would be amazed if he could see what people have done in his memory.”