A St Columba s College pupil, who was named best cadet in the school force, was found hanged at his family home last Sunday. Rupert Marson, aged 14, was found dead at the house in Boundary Road, St Albans. He was the son of Richard Marson, ex-BBC Blue Pet

A St Columba's College pupil, who was named best cadet in the school force, was found hanged at his family home last Sunday.

Rupert Marson, aged 14, was found dead at the house in Boundary Road, St Albans.

He was the son of Richard Marson, ex-BBC Blue Peter editor who was sacked from the show last year following two competition-rigging scandals.

A requiem Mass was held on Wednesday at the school in King Harry Lane, attended by parents, pupils and staff, which headmaster John Stuart said was one of the most moving events in the last 50 years.

At the service a remembrance book was presented by Rupert's friends to his parents Richard and Mandy, and his older sister Rosie.

His family released a statement last night which read: "Rupert will always be our beautiful, radiant, talented boy. He was our challenge and our inspiration and we shall never forget the love, compassion and sheer joy he gave to all his friends and family throughout his life."

A Herts police spokesperson said they were called at 10.27am to the boy's home. He added: "He'd been found hanging and was dead at the scene. It was not suspicious and the coroner has been informed."

Mr Stuart said Rupert was a young man of great promise and his death was a great shock to the whole school community.

Rupert had attended St Columba's for five years and was a boy of wide-ranging curiosity with an inquiring mind.

He added: "He had a lot of friends and he was a well liked by a lot of members of the school. He was an active, generous, thoughtful and bright boy who was interested in contributing in many areas, notably being recently nominated as best cadet in the force.

"He was active in music and drama and obviously his loss was a blow to the school as well as his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this sad time."

He said that ome of the boys would be taking part at the funeral next Wednesday at St Saviours Church on Sandpit Lane.

Friends of Rupert dedicated a group to him on the social networking site Facebook which 612 people joined.

The page tells of how he was a great guy who touched everyone in many different ways and was a wonderful actor, a friend to all and an amazing guitarist.