IT is now six months since the death of schoolboy Joe Lister in a school trip caving tragedy. Here, his parents speak exclusively to The Press about their loss.

FOR Martin and Paula Lister every day brings something new to remind them of their 14-year-old son, Joe, who died on the first day of a school caving trip near Pateley Bridge, in Nidderdale, on November 14 last year.

The couple, who live at Steeton Grange Farm, near Tadcaster, with their other two children Laura, 13, and Ben, ten, are still struggling to come to terms with their loss.

"It's strange things that creep up on you when you least expect it," said Paula.

"But you just have to get on with it.

"I don't think about how I'm dealing with it really. You just get on because you have to.

"It's important for Laura and Ben. They have still got their everyday lives and you just carry on, don't you."

Martin said: "It must be awful for the children who were there in the cave.

"It was the first time he'd been caving and we weren't there, so we don't know what happened, but we know from what his friends who were with him have said, that he was enjoying himself.

"He relished anything like that, anything active. He'd been skiing with the school and on a football trip to Barcelona in previous years."

Mr and Mrs Lister said they have been "amazed and overwhelmed" by the support they have received, not just from family and friends, but through the dozens of letters they have received from other grieving parents across the country.

Paula said: "You know how it affects your own family but you don't realise just how many other people there are out there whose children have died in tragic circumstances.

"We have had letters from all over the country from complete strangers who have been amazingly kind.

"It's a real effort to put pen to paper and be bothered to do something like that and it's very much appreciated."

The Listers remember their son as a sport-mad lad who would much rather have been outdoors kicking a football around or riding a quad bike on the family farm than sitting at a computer.

"He was a sporty kid with an active social life, he was just an ordinary lad," said Martin.

"He wanted to do something sporting after school whether it was coaching or playing."

Paula said: "I couldn't quite imagine him behind a desk somehow.

"Both he and his brother loved Peter Kay and he was always doing impressions.

"He wasn't shy, but he didn't like pushing himself forward either, but sometimes he just burst out with impressions.

"When we found out he'd chosen drama for GCSE we were really surprised, because we would never have thought of him in a play, but his drama teacher was made up about his decision.

"Joe just got on with everyone and I know its clichd, but he was always smiling.

"Adults got on with him as well as kids his own age, he just seemed to know how to talk to people appropriately whatever their age."

Investigations into exactly what happened on the day Joe died are still on-going and the Listers said they are happy for it to run its course.

Martin said: "We have met most of the people involved in the investigation from the police, health and safety and the Crown Prosecution Service and we have every confidence they will do their job."

'A football tournament was the only tribute I could really pay to Joe'

JOE Lister's former football coach is staging a tribute schools tournament at his old school.

A mix of primary and secondary schools have signed up to the seven-a-side event being held at Joe's old school, Tadcaster Grammar, on Monday evening.

Organiser and former Millthorpe School pupil, 23-year-old Alex Hepton, now runs his own coaching business, called Elite, and goes into schools to coach. He formerly coached Joe when he played at York.

"This was the only tribute I could really pay to Joe," said Alex, "We have 12 schools signed up to the event which is non-competitive and I'm really pleased they have decided to show their support in this way.

"Like everyone who knew Joe, I was gutted when he died and I have discussed the matter with his parents, Martin and Paula, and the school and everyone thought it was a good idea."

The schools will be playing in two categories, under-11s and then Year 10s - Joe's own age group of 14-year-olds.

Primary schools which have signed up are: Appleton Roebuck (Joe's former primary school), Long Marston, Kirk Fenton, Tadcaster East, Tadcaster Riverside, St Mary's CE at Askham Richard, St Joseph's RC in Tadcaster and Heworth, York.

The secondary schools fielding a team are Tadcaster Grammar, Barlby High, Sherburn High and All Saints' RC, York.

Mrs Lister said: "We think the tournament is a fantastic idea - Joe would have loved it."

Days after The Press joined forces with Tadcaster Grammar School to launch the Joe Lister memorial fund, the money has been raised.

Last Friday, The Press joined a bid to try and raise around £10,000 for a memorial to be built at the school, but since then, and thanks to a "phenomenal response" the total has exceeded all expectations, with £10,500 now in the pot.

Following Joe's funeral, considerable funds were raised in memory of Joe, with donations going to the Fell Rescue Team, Harrogate Hospital and Tadcaster and Bolton Percy churches.

However, Tadcaster Grammar School head teacher Geoff Mitchell, Joe's school friends and the Lister family have been working together to try and make a lasting memorial in the school grounds.

Mr Mitchell said: "We have had a phenomenal response, in view of the sort of lad Joe was."

An area has been set aside at the school for the memorial, which could be ready by July.

Updated: 08:55 Wednesday, May 10, 2006