DOZENS of classmates will be reunited for the first time in 21 years for a memorial after one of their friends died of cancer last week.

Caspar Butler, 37, was known to many as the boy racing around on his BMX bike at Chelmer Valley High School with a constant smile on his face.

He was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in his gullet in October 2010 after he had a hiatal hernia, where the stomach sticks upward into the chest.

And although doctors thought they had removed the tumour, Caspar died on January 24 in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, where he moved as a teenager.

Donna Mitson, the organiser of the reunion, was eager to gather the classmates to raise money and show support for their lost friend.

The 37-year-old, from Braintree, said: "People have been coming out of the woodwork, all because they want to do something for Caspar.

"This event is going to be bigger than I ever thought, maybe over 100 people, and I may even be doing a skydive for him.

"It is so sad that he has died so young and left his family. I lost my mum so I know how it feels to lose someone close to you.

"Caspar was friends with everybody. I know this because I was with him through primary and senior school and I had my first crush on him."

Caspar lived in the West Country with his wife Steph and three daughters.

Donna and Steph have kept in contact since Caspar's death, when a tearful Steph said: "I never thought I would be a widow at 36."

Chelmer Valley High School has allowed the friends to use the hall on March 25.

Friends have already offered a free buffet, DJ, and raffle prizes all for his hospice, Weston Hospicecare, and Donna is inviting anyone who knew Caspar to attend the event.