T-shirt tribute to Cyril

7:17pm Friday 25th April 2008

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Friends of a Maple Cross teenager who died this month have come up with a novel way to remember him - by printing more than 500 T-shirts bearing his face.

Nineteen-year-old Cyril Daniels died in a London hospital on Friday, April 11, eight days after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

The popular Rickmansworth School sixth-form student was loved by fellow pupils for his engaging sense of humour, friendly nature, and kindness of spirit.

More than 800 youngsters have since joined a tribute group on the social networking site Facebook. It is from here that best friend Matt Taylor garnered support for the special issue T-shirts.

More than 500 of the royal blue garments are expected to be sold before Cyril's funeral at St Mary's Church, Rickmansworth, next Saturday.

Mr Taylor, 19, a Bournemouth University Student from Molteno Road, described an extraordinary tribute to an extraordinary young man.

He said: "Cyril was my best friend, but when I first had the idea I wasn't sure if people would find it funny or disrespectful. But I know Cyril would have laughed about it so I thought it was a good way to respect him.

"People have reacted really well to it and the support has been amazing. I am not normally an organised type of person but sorting this out means a lot to me. I think people are planning to wear them under their clothes at the funeral and then unveil them at the wake.

"He was the most popular boy at the school."

Hundreds of mourners are expected to attend the funeral, which starts at 10am. Cyril will then be burried in Chorleywood Lawns at 11.30am before a celebration of his life at Rickmansworth School from 1pm.