STUDENTS have remembered a popular school driver by giving £1,000 to a charity that delivers life-saving skills.

Malvern College's sixth form council gave the money to Heartstart Malvern in memory of Tony Allen, who died in December last year.

Pupils and staff met Heartstart Trustee Sarah Grout to hand over the cheque.

Sixth-former Jamie Bitenyo-Jones said: “We are very thankful for the work Heartstart has done and continues to do at Malvern College in terms of pupil training, and raising awareness of how and when to use defibrillators and how to administer First Aid.”

Dan Landon, Estates Bursar, spoke on behalf of the College about Tony, who suffered a heart attack almost a year ago.

He said: “Tony took the responsibility of getting the pupils to school very seriously, and cycled to work in the cold to fulfil his driving duties.

"It is an irony that it was Tony’s incredible heart that would eventually fail him and cause his early death.

"We hope that more defibrillators and trained users in the community, provided from donations from the community and coordinated by fantastic charities like Heartstart, will help to prevent further avoidable tragedies like this.”

Sarah Grout, Heartstart Malvern trustee, said: “This is an incredibly generous donation and represents a wonderful tribute to Tony Allen.

"It is a reflection of the enormous respect that the pupils, staff and parents had for him.

"That the pupils have, furthermore, made the commitment to support Heartstart Malvern by taking up our CPR and defibrillator training within the school, is truly noteworthy.

"I have been bowled over by their sentiments today and know that Tony’s family will be very proud of his connection with the charity and the pupils’ enthusiasm for helping others in this way which has come about as a direct result.

"The continuing involvement of our young people in this charitable cause provides an enduring legacy.”