Friends of a teenager who died after a battle with a brain tumour held a special memorial evening to remember her.

Plume Academy pupil Jessica Smith, 14, died just over a year after getting her diagnosis.

Jessica’s family have thanked the Fambridge Road school after they held the evening in memory of her.

The event also helped to raise money for children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

Mum Paula, 47, said: “I had taken her to the doctors as she was struggling with her handwriting. They sent us straight to the hospital and they did lots of tests that night.

“She started chemotherapy and radiotherapy and was doing really, really well.

“She got to do some lovely things throughout the year through different charities and she met some wonderful people.

“Jessica got to watch P!nk at V Festival and she was invited as her guest to the X Factor but was in hospital.”

The pop superstar also sent Jessica a box of signed memorabilia including records, t-shirts and posters.

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Year 10 pupil Jessica, who loved drama, continued to go to school when she could before her condition deteriorated in November.

Mrs Smith added: “When she went back in September she was a bit wobbly and they said they would have to reassess.

“She sent an email saying it wasn’t fair and she wanted another chance – she was determined to do as much school as she could.”

Jessica died surrounded by her family on January 6.

At her funeral she was dressed in an orange hoody with her friends and family embracing the orange theme.

Mrs Smith said: “I didn’t want anyone to be formal. Jessica was a relaxed young girl, so we said for everyone to come in whatever they were comfortable in.”

The memorial was organised by head of Year 10 Dan Rose and was held at Plume on March 28.

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There was afternoon tea, performances by pupils including a song written in memory of Jessica, and a fundraising raffle which raised £900.

Maldon Rotary also donated £500 and pupils helped fundraise by holding cake sales and selling orange ribbons.

Pupils also presented Jessica’s family with memory jars.

Mrs Smith said: “I was in awe of them.

“They were all so brave.

“I want the community to know just how good the school are and have been to Jessica and the situation.

“It gave the pupils all something to focus on rather than the sadness.

“Everyone took their strength from Jessica – she was so strong about it.

"The school were amazing to Jessica whilst she was going through treatment last year, making sure they accommodated her as much as was practically possible.

“This included giving her a support teacher when Jessica was too weak to write but still insistent on going to drama.”

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Mr Rose said the idea for the memorial had been put together by Jessica’s form tutor Athena Marinos and her close friends.

He said: “The order of events and all performances were all constructed by the students in Year 10 and ranged from dance, music and drama - all the arts that Jess loved with a passion.

“The dance performance was led by Izzy Weeks-Hankins who helped to choreograph the piece, music was performed by Beth Butcher who had written, composed and performed a special dedicated song for Jess and the drama piece from the play Blood Brothers was expertly performed by Brooke Claydon.

“Students Courtney Healey and Brooke Claydon hosted the evening introducing all performances with the whole crowd being moved by the exceptional recital read by Selma Rassasse to close the first part of the evening.”

More than £2,400 has been raised for CLIC Sargent via events at Plume.

To donate visit justgiving.com/ fundraising/jessicasmithfund.