A friend of a 16-year-old girl who committed suicide last year is raising money for a bench in memory of his “beautiful” and “popular” friend.

Daniel Bryne, 17, organised a football tournament on Sunday for family and friends of Wendy Maguire, who an inquest rules who jumped to her death from a footbridge on January 13 last year.

He is trying to raise £500 for a plaque and bench which will be at their school The Palmer Catholic Academy, Aldborough Road South, Seven Kings.

Daniel said: “It would be nice to have a bench to remember her by. School was such a big part of her life. She was a lovely girl, beautiful, kind friends and she was very popular.”

About 30–40 people took part in the tournament which was held at the Jack Carter Pavillion, Fencepiece Road, Barkingside. Before the tournament a short prayer service was held in Miss Maguire’s memory.

Daniel said: “Everyone who took part were all close to Wendy, family and friends or people who knew her well. I knew her for about 12 years, most mornings I walked to school with her and we went to the same church.”

An inquest into Miss Maguire’s death held at Walthamstow Coroner’s Court in November, heard that she had been drinking before school.

She then went to the footbridge over the A12 in Leytonstone before jumping on to the motorway below.

Daniel said: “There was silence throughout the year when we found out what happened. Exams were being postponed because of it. It was a shock when we found out how she had died.”

The family of Miss Maguire, who live in Henley Road, Seven Kings dispute the coroner’s verdict of suicide.

Anyone wanting to make a contribution towards the bench should email newsdesk@ilfordrecorder.co.uk.