THE head boy of a Weymouth school has lost his battle against a brain tumour.

Wey Valley School pupils and staff will turn out in force tomorrow to pay tribute to Year 11 student Will Mackaness, 16, who died at home just 30 minutes after receiving his GCSE results.

His mum Pam Govier, a teacher at the Weymouth school, said Will had wanted to know how he did.

"He was very determined to hang on and find out, which was very much like his character," she said.

Will achieved an A, two Bs, three Cs and a distinction for Btech sport, which he took after his brain tumour returned in February.

He was first diagnosed with the tumour in 2005, following two operations, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and returned to school full-time in Year 10.

In July 2007, Will was elected as head boy by his teachers and classmates.

A keen sports player, he won a Commitment To Sports award in year 11 and played both the violin and piano and took part in the school production of Les Miserables.

Will also gave up his Tuesday nights to help at the A Star youth club, a group for autistic children.

Pam, 47, said Will wanted to be a PE teacher and had already decided what A-levels to do and planned where he would go to university.

Pam said Will's illness changed her outlook on life and that together they grasped every opportunity as mother and son.

"We made the most of the time we had. We had marvellous summers at the beach with Will on his surfboard and us just having fun and him smiling and swimming out to the raft.

"He was such an easy-going boy and he never felt sorry for himself but was always concerned and caring towards others - he was worried about how I would cope when he was having his first operation. I was so proud that he was able to make the prom in June, despite him having terrible double vision.

"He was determined to celebrate finishing school with his year group and took two girls to the prom.

"He did the complete cycle - he got to the prom and he didn't think he would make it there.

"I miss him so much, but what gives me strength is the time we had together," she said.

Pam said Will's funeral - to be held tomorrow at St Aldhelm's Church in Spa Road at 11.30am - will be a celebration of his life.

Anyone who knew Will is welcome to attend, she said.

Wey Valley headteacher Phil Thomas said Will's openness, respect for others, total friend-liness and sense of humour always shone through.

He added: "The applause from the year group when Will stepped forward at our leavers' ceremony demonstrated how highly he was loved and valued - and that only comes from someone extremely special.

"Will was a fantastic young man who has had a great impact on us during his short life and, in almost 30 years' teaching, rarely have I had the privilege to work with such an outstanding individual."

Jamie Frampton, 16, Will's best friend since they were eight, remembers holidays in Croyde, Devon with him.

He said: "Will was fun and would make me laugh. I thought I would see him get better. He knew me better than anyone else."

Jamie, who plays football for Weymouth, said: "Will would come and support me at all my games."

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