TERLING: 13-year-old boy found hanged

A FAMILY was struck by tragedy when a 13-year-old boy was found by his younger brother hanging in their shared bedroom.

Harry Robinson, of Gamble's Green, near Hatfield Peverel, had spent the day playing in the snow with friends, and on his PlayStation games console, before he was found by 11-year-old Charlie.

Family and friends paid tribute to the keen Air Training Corps cadet, who had suffered at the hands of bullies in the past although his father said that had changed over the last year.

Father Simon Robinson, who is estranged from Amanda Keable, the mother of the two boys, said: "He had gone through a rough time in the past, but we thought that he had mostly put it behind him since he joined the Air Cadets.

"He was a lovely, fun lad – I just wish he was here so I could ask him 'what do you think you were playing at?'

"There hadn't been any big catastrophe – he had a good Christmas and we had really noticed a difference in him recently."

Harry had suffered at the hands of bullies when he first attended Notley High School, Braintree, but a statement issued by the school said those problems had been resolved.

Mr Robinson, 44, said: "He could be hard to talk to sometimes – like most teenage boys he sometimes communicated by grunting but when talkative he always brought a smile to everyone's face – he had a very dry sense of humour."

Harry suffered mild hearing difficulties and dyslexia, and was a promising artist who enjoyed drawing and painting birds.

Harry's mum said that reports in the national press that his death was linked to bullying were inaccurate.

She said: "Harry was the happiest he has ever been in the last few months.

"It would be totally and utterly wrong to suggest Harry's death was linked to bullying and I totally refute the allegations that have been made in this regard.

"Instances involving Harry in the past, that were raised by myself with the school, were dealt with in a professional and satisfactory manner.

"The school was fully involved and engaged at all times and I cannot praise them enough."

Harry's grandmother, Mary Paul, said: "He was a gorgeous, lovely boy – funny, witty and clever.

"At the moment we have far more questions than answers."

Paramedics and police were called to the family home at around 7pm on Thursday January 7, and Harry was rushed to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, where he later died.

As well as his brother, Charlie, he had one sister, Rhianna, 15, who also attends Notley High School.

Head teacher Simon Thompson said: "Harry Robinson was a popular, promising, friendly pupil.

"The school takes extremely seriously any instances or accusations of bullying and has in place a robust anti-bullying policy.

Isolated incidents

"There were a number of isolated and limited incidents involving Harry that occurred away from the school itself.

"These incidents were brought to the attention of school and were addressed and dealt with at the time."

An inquest has been opened into Harry's death and a full hearing will take place at a later date.

Read more including reactions from friends and loved ones of Harry in this week's Chronicle.

To leave your tributes to Harry, visit

http://lastingtribute.totalessex.co.uk/tribute/robinson/3234591