11:43am Thursday 27th May 2010
By Alana Lewis
Friends of talented schoolgirl Zohura Islam, who lit up the Sheldon School prom with her smile and beauty, were devastated on Friday to learn of her death.
Just a week earlier she had dazzled at the Chippenham school’s Year 11 prom at Grittleton House when she wore a stunning traditional dress.
But just as examinations were due to start on Friday headteacher Gerard MacMahon had to break the news that Zohura, 15, had been found dead at her home in Littlecote Road, Chippenham.
Mr MacMahon said: “I don’t think I can find the right words to express my thoughts about Zohura, but in searching for the Facebook page I discovered that her name means ‘beautiful, innocent and caring’,” he said. “How can she be better described?
“Zohura wanted to be a doctor, and she would have been – she was bright and intelligent, but also very down to earth and friendly.”
More than 100 of Zohura’s friends gathered at the school on Friday evening to hold a memorial ceremony, passing a candle around the group and dancing the hokey-cokey. Mr MacMahon said: “I think the dance was spontaneous. They wanted to do something they felt Zohura would have liked.”
Hundreds of youngsters have also joined the Facebook group Zohura Islam: You won’t be forgotten, to pay tribute to their friend.
Friend Claire Crawford wrote on the group page: “Being at the field on Friday was so uplifting for everyone who went.
“You would have laughed at us doing the hokey-cokey; we must have looked silly I know, but it felt like the right thing to do.
“You were such a smiley, fun, happy person. It truly was a beautiful evening with the sun shining.”
A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: “At approximately 7.30am on Friday, Wiltshire Police were called to an address in Chippenham. Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of a 15-year-old female.
“Investigations are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death, but the incident is not being treated as suspicious at this time.”
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