THE first anniversary of the death of football mascot Bradley Lowery was commemorated with a minute’s applause by schoolmates, who then shouted out his name.

The poignant moment at Blackhall Primary School, east Durham, came after children dressed in strips of all colours, sang and danced along to the Three Lions song in tribute to the boy who touched the heart of millions.

The event coincided with the start of the Bradley Lowery Foundation’s Cancer has no Colours Campaign and the unveiling of a collaboration with Bradley’s former school on plans to build a play area, featuring a pirate ship.

The Sunderland mascot endured a brave fight against neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer, and struck up an unlikely friendship with England striker Jermain Defoe.

Defoe, then playing for Sunderland, paid regular hospital visits to his young friend after being captivated by his bubbly personality when Bradley was chosen to be a mascot for the Black Cats.

Bradley, of Blackhall Colliery, survived to see his sixth birthday, but died a year ago on Saturday.

Headteacher Joanna Clark said: “It is a been a year virtually to the day that we had our summer fair and that was the day we heard the news that he had passed away.

“So it felt very significant and poignant moment for us that we held the summer fair on the same day as remembering him.

“All the children are wearing football strips in memory of him. We wanted to remember him with a minute’s applause instead of a minute’s silence and focus on the good that Bradley brought.

“We want to build a play area in memory of him, with a big pirate ship called HMS Bradley, so the children can all role play on it.

“It wouldn’t be be complete without a football pitch. And it’s not just for the school, it’s for the whole community. Money raised at the fair will go toward the project.”

Addressing the children, Mrs Clark said: “The sun is shining. It’s a really special afternoon.

“It’s a year ago (that Bradley died). And it is sad. But you know Bradley wouldn’t want us to be sad.

“He’s looking down on us thinking ‘I want to be part of this summer fair. I want to have fun on that bouncy slide over there’. There is so much here we are going to enjoy.”

She added: “I would love us to remember Bradley by singing a football song. Because that is how he brought us all together.

“Everybody in the football world knew Bradley Lowery’s name, whatever team they supported.”

Lynne Murphy campaign manager of the Bradley Lowery Foundation, said: “The support we have had for the foundation has been overwhelming.

“We have supported 23 children. Six of those of those are success stories where they have raised the funds needed for treatment or equipment they needed.“It’s overwhelming that after ten months we still have the support from communities across the UK an we also have contacts in the USA who want to support the foundation.”

She added that Bradley’s family are “taking time out” on the anniversary and are “doing well”.

She said: “Obviously with the anniversary coming up every day has been getting harder and harder, but we are concentrating on Cancer has no Colours and carrying on the legacy Bradley created.”