School in shock at gun death of ‘bright’ student

An “outstanding” 16-year-old student who died after apparently shooting himself in a quiet village had a bright future ahead of him, his headmaster said.

Police were called to a property in Cobham, Kent, at 10.30pm on Friday but schoolboy Charlie Booth was pronounced dead at the scene in a suspected suicide.

News of the Year 11 pupil’s death was broken to classmates at assembly yesterday morning at independent Gad’s Hill School, based at the former home of Charles Dickens in Higham.

The death is not being treated as suspicious.

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A Kent Police spokesman said: “Police were called at 10.30pm on March 8 to a sudden death of a 16-year-old boy at a private address in Cobham.

“The death is being treated as non-suspicious but unexplained at this time.”

A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman said two clinicians attended the property.

He said: “We attended a patient in the Watling Street area but he was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Today tributes were paid to Charlie by Gad’s Hill School.

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Dickens made Gad’s Hill Place – where the school is currently based – his home in 1856 and penned classic novels including Great Expectations.

Charlie, regarded as a talented rugby and football player, was described as an “excellent ambassador for our school” by his headmaster David Craggs.

Mr Craggs said: “I am sure you will all react with shock and deep sadness at this news. Charlie was after all a remarkable young man, who had such a bright future ahead of him.

“Our first thoughts are for Charlie’s family and I can say with confidence that they have the heartfelt support and condolences of the whole Gad’s Hill community.

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“It is at times like this – to quote recent comments by President Barack Obama – we will all hug our own children a little closer over the next few days.”

Charlie joined Gad’s Hill in its junior school and was said to be an “outstanding student” who contributed to all areas of school life.

Mr Craggs added: “He was an excellent ambassador for our school, an NCO in the school’s Combined Cadet Force and was due to embrace his passion for adventure and his love for the outdoors on a once-in-a-lifetime school expedition to Alaska this summer.”