A MEMORIAL seat in honour of a troubled teenager who took his life at a train station last year has been installed in his village.
The tragic death of 17-year-old Jamie McKitten in Chester-le-Street last March touched hearts in his community and across the region.
As a youngster, along with his older brother, he witnessed the brutal murder of his mother, Kelly McKitten, at the hands of his father.
Growing up in Great Lumley, with his grandparents, he would often sit at a local sculpture known locally as the View Finder to think about the mother he lost as a four-year-old.
Now Jamie’s Seat, which is green and black metal, and has two hearts on it, has been installed free of charge by Durham County Council.
His grandmother, Shelley McKitten, who is 65, said: “It was just where Jamie always sat.
“He would sit in that area and think about his mam. That was where he chilled out.
“It is somewhere his friends can go and sit and it keeps his memory alive.”
The seat has been paid for suing money that was raised in Jamie’s memory after he died.
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His family said he never got over the death of 31-year-old Kelly, who was fatally attacked by her former partner, Stuart Cummings, at her home in Pelton Fell in 2008.
The youngster suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and on March 31 last year, Jamie took his own life on the railway during one of his periods of depression.
He was hit by a train and, after an inquest into the circumstances, Assistant Coroner Leslie Hamilton recorded a conclusion of suicide.
Jamie was a popular teenager and his death prompted an outpouring of grief among those who knew him.
Flowers were left on the platform near where he died and hundreds of people lined the streets to pay tribute during his funeral.
Jamie’s death has devastated his brother Ross, 22, as well as his grandparents who say they will never get over the double tragedies in their family.
Shelley, who is married to Joe, 66, said: “It is almost a year. It has been very, very hard.
“We are just taking it one day at a time. A lot of his friends keep in touch.
“The community has been really supportive, but I don’t we will ever come to terms with what happened.”
- If you need help contact the Samaritans' helpline number 116 123.
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