FRIENDS, fellow pupils and teachers of 11-year-old Ryan Jones, who died in his sleep at his Newport home last month, joined his family at a service to remember and celebrate his short life.

More than 250 people packed St Andrew’s Church, Lliswerry, on Friday and afterwards 100 balloons – blue and white for football-mad Ryan’s beloved Birmingham City – were released by youngsters who knew him.

The club badge adorned the back page of the order of service, and a photograph of its ground, St Andrew’s, was spread across the inner covers.

Diagnosed last January with benign epilepsy, Ryan, who had just moved up to Lliswerry High School, was found unresponsive in his bed on Tuesday September 30 by stepdad John Wheat.

He and Ryan’s mum Sarah Shelton are waiting to discover the full details of his death, but fear he may be a victim of SUDEP, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, which due to a number of factors claims around 500 lives a year in the UK.

During the service, Ryan’s 16-year-old sister Leah read self-penned poem for her brother.

Sherry Saunders, headteacher at Lliswerry primary school, recalled a pupil who had always been the first to raise his hand if the children were asked to help anyone, and one who made good progress in his final year before moving up to high school.

A funeral service for Ryan was held in Birmingham, where he was born, last Tuesday.

Mr Wheat a member of Newport’s First Responder team which provides back-up for the ambulance service, found Ryan dead when he tried to get him up for school on September 30.

He said the memorial service was a chance for those who knew Ryan to get together to remember him.

“He was a popular boy and lots of people have been touched by his death. We’ve had so many cards and messages of condolence. We appreciate that and it is very comforting to know,” said Mr Wheat.

  Ryan's family have also been overwhelmed by the help they received with arranging his funeral and the memorial service.

His sudden death meant the family were struggling to pay for the funeral, but Mr Wheat said there had been a tremendous response.

Ringland Labour Club held fundraising raffles, and contractors at Uskmouth power station collected loose change to help the cause.

“It’s amazing the response we’ve had, we can’t thank people enough,” said Mr Wheat, who added that football clubs as large and small as Birmingham City and Lliswerry All Stars, as well as Lliswerry Stores, Lliswerry primary and high schools, the charity Epilepsy Bereaved, Co-operative Funeral Care, Newport First Responders and the Welsh Ambulance Services Trust were also among those who deserved special thanks.

“Karen Velline, Emma Davies, Dawn Carlson, Tina Liddell, Ryan Oliver and the Reverend Philip Musindi have also been fantastic.

“I’d like to thank the Argus too, because after Ryan’s story appeared others got in touch. Without that we perhaps wouldn’t have been able to have this service.”