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28 January 2013, 14:03 | Updated: 28 January 2013, 14:12
Ipswich School have paid tribute to a former pupil who died after a fall while climbing on Ben Nevis.
22-year-old Ben St Joseph fell 100m while climbing on his own on the mountain.
He went to Ipswich School between 2003 and 2008 and was training to be a doctor in the Army.
Ipswich School have told Heart: "We were greatly saddened to hear the tragic news of Ben’s death. Whilst in the sixth form Ben was Head of Rigaud House. He was also a keen all-round sportsman, playing for the school rugby and football first teams. He was a Senior NCO Instructor in the school’s Combined Cadet Force, and was selected to attend a leadership course at Frimley Park, where he distinguished himself above all other cadets and his performance was described as, “First-class all round.” His passion for adventure also led him to participate in a 2006 World Challenge Expedition to India, where his great leadership and interpersonal skills came to the fore."
Alasdair Ross, Head of Duke Of Edinburgh Award and Overseas Expeditions at Ipswich School said, “Ben had just been accepted into the Army with a place at Sandhurst, to become a doctor – combining two of the things he liked the most: military and medicine. Ben was probably the finest pupil I have met at the school and I had the fortune to take him trekking in Northern India and on climbing trips to Scotland and Northern Spain. He had so much more to offer and will be missed by many.”
Nicole Brown, who was his Housemistress at Ipswich School, said: “I am deeply saddened by the tragic news of Ben's death and found it quite difficult to pay tribute enough to this remarkable young man, who surely had such a bright future ahead of him. He was quite literally one of the finest pupils to have passed through Ipswich School in recent years. As Head of Rigaud House he contributed enormously to all areas of school life, achieving excellent grades academically, before going on to read Medicine at Bristol University. He was a very modest, caring young man, who also showed great strength, initiative and leadership, and was a great friend to so many. He will be greatly missed."
The thoughts of all at Ipswich School are with his family and friends at this time.