Teenager who decided at last minute not to join Snowdonia trip among those mourning crash victims

Teenagers also came from one of the Shrewsbury Colleges Group campuses – just minutes away from the abbey itself.

It is the third time in less than two months the young cohort have lost a peer and friend.

Alfie McCormick, an 18-year-old A-level student at English and Welsh Bridge, tragically took his own life in late September.

Just days later Ben Worrall, a 17-year-old apprentice bricklayer, was killed in a motorbike crash.

A card left on the altar, among dozens of lit candles and fresh floral tributes, appeared to be written by a teacher of Mr Hirst – the youngest victim.

“You’ll always have muddy knees and wild hair to me,” it read. “Thank you for being a true free spirit and a beautiful soul.”

Many of the teenagers’ young friends were too distraught to speak. 

Undisputed sadness

Students also laid flowers at the English Bridge campus, while messages of “love you” and “rest in peace” were written on the stone stairs.

Molly Clarkson said she knew all the boys, and first met Mr Hirst at primary school.

“Wilf sits in my English class and today the teacher was crying,” she told the BBC. “There is an undisputed sadness. They were all best friends.”

Rev Charlotte Gompertz, vicar at Oxon Parish Church, who knows some of the boys’ families, explained how she had prayed for them to be found just hours before police confirmed the bodies had been discovered.

Her church was also welcoming members of the community on Wednesday.

She said: “It is just devastating. As a vicar, this is just not anything you ever want to do.

“On Monday night, we had about 30 people or so, including lots of young people and fellow pupils of the boys, some came with their mums.

“Shrewsbury is a small enough place that everyone knows somebody who knows somebody who knows those boys.”

“I am a parent, but even for anyone who doesn’t have children, it’s just utterly tragic.”